Rugby: Evans has no regrets over 'bloodgate'

Former All Black Nick Evans. Photo / Getty Images

Harlequins' New Zealand first five-eighth Nick Evans says he has no regrets over the "bloodgate" incident that saw the club's director of rugby Dean Richards banned from rugby for three years and teammate Tom Williams suspended for four months.

Williams fabricated a blood injury to his mouth to allow former All Black Evans back onto the pitch in the closing stages of his side's 6-5 Heineken Cup quarterfinal loss to Leinster.

The controversy ultimately cost Richards and physiotherapist Steph Brennan their jobs after they pleaded guilty to misconduct charges at an appeal hearing last week.

Williams confessed to four other similar incidents as he spilt the beans on the subsequent cover-up to save himself from a 12-month suspension from the game.

Evans said the best way to banish the memories of the past month was by adding some silverware to the trophy cabinet.

"I don't look back on anything that happened that night with regret. What is done, is done. It is all gone now and is yesterday's fish and chip paper," he told the Croydon Guardian.

"It is all about moving forward and not looking at those things too much. If you do that it takes away from what we achieved as a team and as players.

"There is no better way to vindicate ourselves than by going and winning the Premiership or Heineken Cup.

"It is for us to back up what we did last year and make sure we have that success again."

Evans told The Independent newspaper he is braced for the inevitable mocking from the crowd and opponents this season.

"I'll look forward to the sledging - it will be like cricket," he said.

"I was expecing a bit during our first pre-season game in Edinburgh but we didn't (get) much.

"I'm pretty sure the English crowd won't be so forgiving at places like Gloucester or Bath."

- NZPA