Sport's Strangest Crimes - 2. It’s Not Real Blood

The story of one rugby's most notorious matches, told by those who were there.

A European Cup quarter-final between Harlequins and Leinster was always going to be big - but nobody knew how big.

Players from both sides including Ugo Monye and Brian O’Driscoll, commentators, coaches and referee Nigel Owens recall how events unfolded before, during and after the moment that Tom Williams staggered from the field with fake blood dripping from his mouth.

The Leinster officials see through the plot straight away - but can they expose the wrongdoing?

Narrator: Ross Kemp
Reporter/Interviewer: Chris Jones
Writer/Producer: Sam Sheringham
Story editor: Tom Fuller
Sound design/production: Jesse Howard
Digital Producers: Sam Huxley and Stephen Trenchard
Assistant producers: Metin Yilmaz, Jack Wood, Mujtaba Ali and Victoria Turner
BBC 5 Live Sport podcast editor: Matt Smith
Commissioner: Stevie Middleton

Published on Saturday, 22nd March 2025.

Available Podcasts from Sport's Strangest Crimes

Subscribe to Sport's Strangest Crimes

We are not the BBC, we only list available podcasts. To find out more about the programme including episodes available on BBC iPlayer, go to the Sport's Strangest Crimes webpage.