Quins off the hook over Skinner red

An investigation in the Technical Zone incident involving Harlequins flank Will Skinner during the Heineken Cup match with Toulouse has concluded that no further disciplinary action would be required.

In the 79th minute of the European Cup Pool Six match, won by Quins, Skinner jumped up off his chair on the bench to interfere with a ball kicked into touch to prevent Toulouse from taking a quick throw at the line-out.

Referee Alain Rolland saw no alternative other than to give Skinner, who had already been replaced in the match, a red card for an act contrary to good sportsmanship.

Harlequins co-operated fully with the investigation, and ERC’s disciplinary officer Roger O’Connor decided that a warning regarding future conduct of Quins staff and players in and around Technical Zones was sufficient.

Skinner had been suspended for two weeks for an act contrary to good sportsmanship.

This is not the first time Harlequins have been in hot water following an unusual incident in a Heineken Cup match.

There was the infamous ‘Bloodgate Scandal’ in 2009 where wing Tom Williams used a fake blood capsule to fabricate an injury to enable goal-kicker Nick Evans to return to the field.

Following the incident, Quins’ then Director of Rugby, Dean Richards, was banned from all rugby for three years.