Tom Williams (rugby player, born 1983) member of the “200 Club” having represented Harlequins for over 200 1st games. During the 2008–09 Heineken Cup quarter final against Leinster, Williams was told to fake a blood injury by Dean Richards to allow a tactical substitition to reintroduce Nick Evans leading to the bloodgate scandal. This resulted in a 12-month ban for Williams, (reduced to four months on appeal), a three-year ban for former director of rugby Dean Richards as well as a two-year ban for physiotherapist Steph Brennan from the ERC with a £260,000 fine for the club. Tom remains the only one to apologise for this
Rugby union in Niger Rugby union in Niger Rugby union in Niger is a minor but growing sport. The governing body is the Nigerien Rugby Federation (Federation Nigerienne de Rugby), which is affiliated to the Confederation of African Rugby. Niger was formerly a French colony, and the game was first introduced there by French expatriates. In recent years, the game has been played mostly by natives. As with many minor rugby nations, the sport is centred on the national capital, Niamey. Niger rates low the Human Development Index, which means it is extremely poor, and lacks the infrastructure that would improve its rugby standing.