RFU chief executive Francis Baron has labelled the Harlequins ‘bloodgate’ scandal an embarrassment and vowed to make sure it never happens again.

Quins have yet to win a Guinness Premiership game since director of rugby Dean Richards resigned over the infamous Tom Williams ‘blood’ substitution and the subsequent cover up that landed him a three year world wide ban from the game.

Baron made the comments as the club’s miserable start to life post-Richards continued on Friday night when they needed an Ugo Monye try and a late Nick Evans penalty to secure a 17-17 draw at Newcastle Falcons.

“I share your embarrassment and anger, many people do,” he said at a question and answer session at Chobham RFC as part of a Surrey rugby roadshow which also saw him and RFU chairman Martyn Thomas visit Old Glynonians and Old Emanuel over the weekend.

“Everybody at the RFU is determined to draw a line under this and make sure cheating of this sort can never happen again.

“The Image of the Game task group will report next week. I hope it’s a watershed, that the game will redefine itself and move forward.”

People inside the game have long feared the kind of practice that brought shame on the Stoop in April is rife in the professional game.

Baron believes it is time those at the top end of the game set the standard for those involved lower down the pecking order, but he reckons Harlequins will have to work hard to restore their reputation.

“There is a difference between gamesmanship and cheating. Umpires and referees are there to control the former. Cheating of the nature we have seen is simply not acceptable,” he said.

“Harlequins have to clean up their image quickly, but clearly that is not going to happen overnight. It hasn’t been good for them and equally it hasn’t been good for the game.

“It has been damaging to the game, but what we are doing now is making sure we repair that damage.

“I don’t believe the incident is symptomatic of what happens in the professional game. It is up to those at the very top of the game to set the right example for the rest of the game to follow.”

Richards had been thought to be on the cusp of landing the England manager’s job prior to Martin Johnson’s appointment just over 12 months ago, but now sees his career in ruins.

“It was pure speculation regarding Dean Richards and working with England. It is not for me to comment on that,” added Baron.

“An independent disciplinary panel was given the task of deciding his punishment and taking into account all the factors involved, it was the punishment they felt was necessary.”