New Director of Rugby for the Harlequins Is Conor O Shea

Conor O'Shea will be named the Harlequins' director of Rugby according to BBC Sport. The thirty nine year old was with the London Irish as a director of Rugby previously, and was an unexpected choice by the team. He takes the place of Dean Richards who withdrew after the incident with the fake blood. O'Shea has also previously worked for the Rugby Football Union and more recently spent eighteen months with the English Institute of Sport. Richards resigned in August and the title of Director or Rugby is said to be made official soon.

Others who were being considered for the post were Ian McGeechan, who was a former coach for the British and Irish Lions as well as for the Wasps. Also, Frank Hadden was being considered, who is a former coach for Scotland, and Gary Gold, assistant coach for South Africa and an internal choice that was passed over, Tony Diprose, who is the assistant coach for the Harlequins. The choice instead is Conor O'Shea, a former Ireland full back and garners much respect from fans as well as those involved in the management and playing of the game of Rugby.

Dean Richards was out after he ordered Winger for the Harlequins, Tom Williams to fake an injury back in April at the Heineken Cup quarter final by chewing on a capsule filled with fake blood. This was done so that Nick Evans could return to the field. Williams then had his lip cut to make the injury more believable. Dean Richards was banned from coaching anywhere in the world because of the incident, after an initial hearing that cleared him, and a subsequent appeal in August which convicted him.