Bloodgate: Remembering One Of Rugby's Darkest Days Eleven Years On

The date is 12 April 2009, there are five minutes left to play in the Heineken Cup quarter-final between Harlequins and Leinster at Twickenham Stoop.

The Harlequins trail by a single point but their goal-kicker, Nick Evans, is off the field with an injury. Their replacement kicker has just pulled his hamstring off the bone. Quins need a penalty or drop-goal to win...

What happens next, involving winger Tom Williams and a fake blood capsule, becomes one of sport's most fascinating scandals.

What happens next, involving winger Tom Williams and a fake blood capsule, becomes one of sport's most fascinating scandals and certainly one of rugby's biggest stories.

Harlequins coach Dean Richards would be handed a three-year ban after months of disciplinary hearings while the team physio, Steph Brenna was struck off by the Health Professions Council before winning a High Court appeal almost two years after the incident. Williams was banned for a year, although this was later reduced to four months. Charles Jillings, the club's co-owner, resigned as chairman.