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So Dean Richards has admitted to ordering the fake blood scam that saw him banned for three years by the ERC and extended worldwide by the IRB.

While three years does seem excessive, I think in this case the punishment for Deano fits. When I was playing the game this level of cheating isn’t something you saw. You might pull a guy’s shirt back or apply a liberal use of the boot, but no pantomime theatrics like fake blood capsules.

While a great deal of the media focus has been on Harlequins, Bath has also seen its own disgraceful events. Both Matt Stevens and Justin Harrison tested positive for cocaine and three other players failed to show up for drugs tests. I sincerely hope Bath can pull itself together and that the new leadership campaign they’ve instigated works. I think the key message needs to be:  you can party at the end of the season, but just say no to the bad stuff!

In the meantime we draw nearer to the start of the Guinness Premiership. Here’s hoping we can forget this past month and get on with some great rugby and hospitality as we move into September.