Quins must move forward - Easter

Easter insists Dean Richards' legacy at Quins should not be undone

Harlequins and England number eight Nick Easter says the club must not let the departure of director of rugby Dean Richards influence their season.

Quins finished second in the Guinness Premiership last term but are now without Richards who resigned last weekend over the fake blood injury row.

Easter told BBC London: "We've got to move forward and I think we will.

"Let's hope that the structures he put in place on the playing side and with recruitment remain."

Richards was cleared of any wrongdoing by European Rugby Cup's independent disciplinary committee, but he left after an internal investigation into the incident in April's Heineken Cup semi-final against Leinster.

The player at the centre of the controversy, Tom Williams, has been banned for 12 months after being found guilty of feigning a cut to the mouth and Quins' chief executive Mark Evans has since written to the fans to apologise.

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Despite the furore over the episode Easter remains full of praise for his former boss.

"He was tremendous for the club and he's tremendous at his job and he's a good guy as well.

"I think what he's done for the club in the last four years is there on paper; improved performance, promoted, improved table position, improved performance in the Heineken Cup. We were moving forward very quickly with him."