Bloodgate Widens: Doctor Admits Slicing Player's Lip To Fake Injury

In a sport with limited substitutions, what's a rugby union side to do when they need to make a late change? Why, use a fake blood capsule, and get the team doctor to cut him. Of course.

Harlequins (England) were in the closing minutes of a win-or-go-home tournament match last year, down 6-5. They needed to get a kicking specialist on the pitch, but couldn't do so unless an injured player left the field. So Tom Williams bit down on a blood capsule, and staggered off the field, "bleeding" profusely from the mouth.

The cameras caught him winking to his sideline. It wasn't the first time Harlequins pulled this stunt.

But this time would be their undoing. Their opponents protested loudly, and as match officials prepared to inspect Williams in the locker room after the game, he went to the team doctor, Wendy Chapman.

Williams was "quite insistent," and Chapman sliced open his lip with a stitch cutter.

Williams received a 4-month suspension; Harlequins director Dean Richards got a 3-year ban; Dr. Chapman's punishment is pending a hearing.

And the player who came on for Williams missed a kick, losing the game for them. Bloody brilliant.

I made 'Bloodgate' doctor victim, says player [Press Association]