Tom Williams will also be banned from RFU competitions for four months, while former Quins physio Steph Brennan has been suspended from his role with the England team for his part in the incident.

An RFU statement today said: “European Rugby Cup (ERC) Limited has sent out a strong message that there is no room for this kind of behaviour in rugby.

“That is a message the RFU will continue to repeat across the game in England and through our own disciplinary processes.

“We can confirm that we will be upholding the bans handed out by ERC across our jurisdiction and that on this particular incident we will not be taking further action as we believe the ERC sanctions are appropriate.”

Richards, 46, was found to be at the centre of a cover-up over an incident in Quins' Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat to Leinster in April in which wing Williams faked a blood injury.

Former England forward Richards was also found to have been involved in four similar incidents and the RFU have not yet decided whether further action will be taken.

The RFU statement continued: “Given the disclosure in yesterday's appeal hearing of further incidents of a similar nature in other competitions we are awaiting the full documentation from ERC to enable us to review whether there is further action the RFU needs to take against the club, its current or former officials, on those other incidents.

“We will issue a further statement when we have properly reviewed the documentation.”

The International Rugby Board later confirmed they would also apply the sanctions meted out by the ERC, meaning the trio are now banned from rugby worldwide.

AN IRB Statement read: “Under IRB Regulations, and the application of the universality principle, all disciplinary sanctions handed down in rugby, including those arising from cross-border competitions, must be applied by all unions in membership of the IRB.

“ERC has sent out a strong message that there is no room for such conduct in rugby.

“The IRB operates a zero tolerance policy towards cheating of any form in the game and works tirelessly with all 116 member unions and key stakeholders to ensure that players are protected as well as the image of the game.”

Richards, who resigned as Quins’ director of rugby last weekend, admitted his guilt during a 14-hour independent committee meeting in Glasgow yesterday.