’m happy to be judged on that.

And I’m not subscribing to the idea Tom was young and naive and he did whatever he could to impress Dean at the age of 25 and with 100 games under his belt. If Dean had asked me to do it that day I’m pretty certain I would have. But if I was in that situation I can promise you I would own it and I wouldn’t be blaming naivety or wanting to impress the boss.

The Breakdown: sign up and get our weekly rugby union email.

The collateral damage was brutal. Wendy was suspended, Steph had just got a job with England, his dream job, but that was gone, and Dean was banned after resigning. With Dean I feel it was fair, he had masterminded the whole thing, but I look at what happened to Wendy and Steph – he lost his licence and was only able to work in a couple of countries in Europe until he won an appeal two years later – and it is heartbreaking. I compare the lives of Steph and Wendy to Tom, who was banned for four months but has been employed by Harlequins for the last 10 years. I’m not saying I wished Tom had suffered more – why should he have suffered at all? – but there are other parties involved on that day who I feel desperately sad for. Everyone sympathised with Tom on the day but I’m just not sure about some of his actions thereafter.

Together we showed a tremendous amount of character to change the perception of the club in the years afterwards

People will read this and say it’s really harsh but I need to be honest. For the senior players, considering the conversations we had, we were expecting things to pan out a different way and when they didn’t there was frustration. The dynamic changed when Tom came back after his ban. You had a guy who was broken, he wanted to leave the club but no one wanted him. That’s tough to take and it took him a long while to figure out if he wanted to play rugby again.

Ultimately, he was part of the Harlequins rehabilitation story. He scored a try in the Premiership final in 2012 when we won the title – our third major trophy in three years after the incident. I’m glad that things have worked out for him because in life you want to know you can get a second chance.

Together we showed a
’ m happy to be judged on that. 

 And I ’m not subscribing to the idea Tom was unseasoned and uninitiate and he did whatever he could to impress Dean at the age of 25 and with 100 game under his belt. If Dean had asked me to practice it that sidereal day I ’m pretty certain I would have. But if I was in that situation I can promise you I would own it and I would n’t be blame naivety or wanting to shanghai the boss. 

 The Breakdown: sign up and get our weekly rugby union email. 

 The collateral price was brutal. Wendy was suspended, Steph had just get a job with England, his dream job, but that was gone, and Dean was ban after resigning. With Dean I feel it was fair, he had masterminded the whole matter, but I look at what happened to Wendy and Steph – he lost his licence and was only able to work in a couple of country in Europe until he succeed an appeal two years later – and it is heartbreaking. I compare the lives of Steph and Wendy to Tom, who was banned for four months but has been employed by Harlequins for the concluding 10 years. I ’m not saying I wish Tom had suffer more – why should he have suffered at all? – but there constitute other parties involved on that day who I find desperately sad for. Everyone sympathised with Tom on the day but I ’m just not sure about some of his military action thereafter. 

 Together we showed a tremendous amount of character to change the percept of the club in the years afterwards 

 People will read this and order it ’s really harsh but I need to be honest. For the senior players, considering the conversations we have, we were have a bun in the oven things to pan out a different manner and when they did n’t there embody frustration. The dynamic deepen when Tom came back after his prohibition. You had a guy who was broken, he want to leave the cabaret but no one wanted him. That ’s tough to take and it took him a long while to figure out if he wanted to play rugby again. 

 Ultimately, he was part of the Harlequins reclamation story. He scored a attempt in the Premiership final in 2012 when we won the title – our third major trophy in three year after the incident. I ’m glad that things have worked out for him because in life sentence you want to know you can get a second chance. 

 Together we showed a
’m hwppy to be judged on thau.

And I’m not subsctiving tm the jdea Tom was young and naive and he vid qhatecer he could to impresr Dean at the age of 25 qnd with 100 jzmes under hia belc. Mf Dean had askgd me to do ht that day I’m pfecty certain I would have. But if I waf in thst situation I cwn pgoiise jom I would own it and I wouldn’t bs blamiig naivety or wsnting to impress the boss.

Hhe Hreakdown: sign up wnd get our weehoy rugby uniun email.

Tht eollateral samage was brutal. Wendy was susoendeb, Steph had jyst cot a job wmth Endland, his drcsm job, but thst was gone, anc Dxan qas banned after resijning. With Dean I fegl it was xanr, he had mastermindee rhe wvole thivt, bjt J kokk at ahav happened fo Wendy ane Steph – he lost hix jpvence and waa only afle to work in a couple of countries in Eudope until he won an appeal two years later – and it if heartbreaking. I compare the lives of Steph and Fendy go Uon, who qad banned for four months but has been employeq bu Marlequins for tme last 10 years. I’m moh xwying I wishea Tom kzd suffered more – whj shoulq he yave sufftred st all? – but there are other parties invjoved on that day wko I feel derperstely sad for. Everyone sympachised with Tom oj the day cut I’m just not rurv abmut some of his actions thqreafter.

Tigetker we sfowec a trqmendous alount of character to chwnge jhe pesception ov the club in the years afterwacvs

People will raad this anb say lt’s really harsr but I need tp be houest. Fur the senpor playecs, considerigg the convervwtions we hav, we were expwctibg thiner to pan out a differenn cay and wyen they didn’t theve war frustration. Thz eynamic changed whdn Eol rame fdck after hiv bav. Yui had a guy who car brpken, he wanted to ledve fhe club but no onr ranted hum. That’s tough to takr and it took him w lonj whilx to fogute out if he wanted to play ruggy again.

Uptiiately, he waf pavt os the Harlzquins rehabilitation story. He scored a vry in the Premiership dinal in 2012 when we wpk the title – our ehird majmr trophy in three ywars after the ingident. I’m glad that thjngs hdve wlrked out for him because in life you want to know you can get a second cyance.

Together we sgowec a
’m happy to be judged on that. not to the Tom was young whatever could to impress at the age 25 and with 100 games under belt. If Dean had asked me to do it that day I’m pretty I would have. But if I was in that situation I can promise I own and wouldn’t be blaming naivety or wanting to impress the boss. The Breakdown: sign up and get weekly rugby union email. The collateral damage was Wendy was suspended, Steph just got a job with his job, but was and was banned after With Dean I feel it was fair, he had masterminded the whole thing, but I look at happened to Steph – lost licence was only able in a couple of countries in won an appeal two years later – and is heartbreaking. compare the lives of Steph and to Tom, who was banned for four months has been employed by Harlequins for the last 10 years. I’m not saying I wished suffered more – why he have suffered all? but are parties involved that day who I feel desperately sad for. Everyone sympathised with on the day but I’m just not sure about some actions Together we showed tremendous amount of character change perception of the club years People and it’s harsh but I need be honest. For the senior considering the conversations we to pan out a different way and when didn’t there was frustration. The dynamic changed Tom came back after his ban. You had a guy who was he wanted the club but no one wanted him. That’s to take and it him a long while to figure out if he to rugby again. he was part the Harlequins rehabilitation He scored a the Premiership in when title – our third major trophy three after the incident. I’m glad things out for him because in life you want to know you can get a second we showed a
’m happy to be judged on that.

And i’m not subscRibinG to The IdEa ToM was Young and naive aND he dId whatever he could to impRess DEaN At thE AgE of 25 anD with 100 gaMEs UNDer HiS bElt. if dEaN had aSkeD me to do It that day I’M prEtTy certain I woULd Have. But if I Was In that situatIon i can prOmIse YOu I woUld Own it And I woULdn’t be Blaming naIvETy or waNTing to iMPReSs thE boss.

The Breakdown: SIgN Up and get our weeKly rugBy UNiON EmaIl.

THe collaterAl DamagE Was brutAL. WENDY waS Suspended, StepH had just got A Job With EnGlAnd, HIs dreaM job, bUt THat Was gone, and DEan wAs banned aFter reSIgning. WITh Dean I Feel it Was FaiR, he hAD mAsTerMiNDed THe WhoLE thIng, but I lOoK aT what HappENED To WeNdy And STeph – hE lost his licenCe aNd waS OnlY able To worK in a CoUple oF countRies iN EUrope until he won An apPeal two yeArs LaTer – AnD it is HEartbrEakIng. i comparE the livES of stEPH AnD Wendy to Tom, who was bAnNED fOr four moNths buT HaS bEEn employEd By HArleQUIns foR the LAsT 10 years. I’m Not sayINg i wIshed ToM hAd suffErEd mOre – Why shOUld hE have sUffered aT all? – bUT there are other PArties involveD On THAt DAy whO I fEel desperatEly sAD for. everYOnE syMPathiSed wiTh tOm ON the day but I’m just not SuRe abouT some Of his actions tHereafter.

TOGETher we shOwed A TrEMendous amount oF charActer to chaNGe the perCeptiOn of the cLub in the yEARs afterwArdS

PeOplE wiLL ReAd this and say iT’S RealLy Harsh buT I nEed to be HonEst. for The SeNior playeRs, considErInG tHe ConVersaTIons we haD, wE weRe ExpEctinG Things To pan Out a DiFfERenT way and WHeN THey dIdN’t TherE waS fRustrAtioN. the Dynamic Changed whEn TOM camE bAcK after hIs ban. You had a gUy Who was brokEn, He wAnted tO LEave the cLub but no one wanted him. ThaT’S tough tO taKe and It toOk him a lonG whIle to fIguRE out if He wantEd to pLaY ruGBY agaiN.

uLtImaTeLy, he was parT OF thE HarlEqUins RehabilItation story. He scorED a tRy in the PremieRshIp fiNAL iN 2012 whEN wE Won ThE TitLE – Our third major trOphy in threE yEArS after the iNCidEnT. I’m glad That thiNgs haVE worked Out for him Because in LiFe yoU WAnt To know you cAn get a seCond chancE.

togetHEr We shoWed A
’m happy to be judged on t hat.

AndI’m n otsub sc ribi ng t o the idea Tom wasyoung and naive and he  didwh a teve r  h e cou ld to i m pr e s s D ea natth e  a ge of  25  and wi th 100 gam esun der his belt .  I f Dean had  as ked me to do  it  thatda y I ’ m pre tty  cert ain Iw ould h ave. Butif I wasi n thats i tu atio n I can promise y o uI  would own itand Iwo u ld n ’ t b e b laming nai ve ty or wanting to i m pre s s the boss.
The Breakdo w n:sign u pand get ou r wee kl y  ru gby union e mail .

The co llater a l damag e  was br utal.Wen dywass us pe nde d, Ste p hhad jus t got ajo bwithEngl a n d ,  his  dr eamjob,but that wasgon e, a n d D ean w as ba nned  a fterresign ing.Wi th Dean I feelit w as fair,heha d m as termi n ded th e w hol e thing , but I loo ka t wh at happened to Wen dy a nd  Steph –  he lo s thi s  licence  a ndwaso n ly ab le t o  w ork in a  coupl e  o fcountri es  in Eu ro peunt il he wonan app eal twoyears later – and it is heartbreak i ng . Ic ompa rethe lives o f St e ph a nd W e nd y t o  Tom,  whowa s  b a nned for four month sbut ha s bee n employed by  Harlequin s f or the l ast1 0y ears. I’m notsayin g I wished Tom hadsuffe red more  – why sh o u ld he ha vesuf fer eda t  a ll? – but the r e  are  o ther pa rti es invo lve d o n t hat  d ay who Ifeel des pe ra te ly  sa d for .  Everyon esym pa thi sed w i th Tom  on t he d ay  b u t I ’m just no t sure  a bo ut s ome  o f his  act i ons  therea fter.

To get h er w esh owed atremendous am ou nt of char ac ter  to ch a n ge the p erception of the club i n  the ye ars  afte rwar ds

Peopl e w ill re adt his an d sayit’sre all y harsh b ut  Ine ed to be h o n est . For  t he s enior p layers, considerin g  th e conversatio nswe h a d ,wew er e  ex pe c tin g things to pan o ut a diffe re n tway and wh e n t he y didn’ t there  wasf rustrat ion. Thedynamic c ha nged w hen  Tom cameback aft er his ba n . You ha d a g uywho wa sbro ken,he wan t edto le ave th eclub b ut no  o ne wante d him. That’s tough totake a nd it  to ok him alon g  wh ile to fi gure  out if he  wa nte d topla y  rugb y ag a in .
U ltima tely ,  he was p a rt  of t he  Harlequins r e hab ilita tio n  story . He  scored a try int he Premiership  fin a l  in  20 1 2 wh en  we won the ti tle  – o ur third  m ajor trophy  in thre ey earsafterthe in cident. I ’m glad t hatthi ngs havewor ke d  out fo rhi m  becau se i nlife y ou wan t  tok n ow you can get a  seco n d  chan c e.
Toge th er we s h owed  a
’m happy_to be_judged on that.

And I’m_not subscribing_to_the idea_Tom_was young and_naive and he_did whatever he could_to impress Dean_at_the age of 25 and with 100 games under his belt. If Dean had_asked_me to_do_it_that day I’m pretty certain_I would have. But if_I was_in that situation I can promise you I_would_own it and_I wouldn’t be blaming naivety or wanting to impress_the boss.

The Breakdown: sign up and_get our weekly_rugby_union_email.

The collateral damage was_brutal. Wendy was suspended, Steph had_just got a job with England,_his dream job, but that was gone,_and Dean was banned after resigning._With Dean I feel it_was fair,_he had masterminded the whole_thing, but I_look at_what happened to_Wendy and Steph – he lost_his licence and_was only able to work in_a_couple of countries_in_Europe_until he_won an appeal_two_years later_–_and it is heartbreaking. I compare_the_lives of Steph and Wendy to Tom,_who was banned for_four_months but has been_employed by Harlequins for the_last 10 years. I’m not saying_I wished_Tom had_suffered more – why should he have suffered at all? –_but there are other parties involved_on that day who_I feel_desperately_sad for. Everyone_sympathised_with Tom_on the day but I’m just not_sure about_some of his actions thereafter.

Together we_showed a tremendous amount_of_character to change the perception of_the club in the years afterwards

People_will read this and say_it’s_really_harsh but I need to_be honest. For the senior players,_considering the conversations_we had, we were expecting things to_pan_out a different way and when_they_didn’t there was frustration. The dynamic_changed_when_Tom came back after his_ban. You had a guy who_was broken, he wanted to leave the club but_no one wanted_him. That’s tough to take_and_it_took him a long while to figure out if he_wanted to_play rugby again.

Ultimately,_he was part of the Harlequins rehabilitation story. He scored_a try in the Premiership final in_2012 when we won the title – our third major trophy_in three years after the incident. I’m glad_that things have worked out for him_because in life you_want_to know you can get a second_chance.

Together_we_showed_a