Harlequins winger Tom Williams says he is relieved to see his year-long ban reduced, but admits the events of the last five months will stay with him for the rest of his career.

The 25-year-old will be sidelined for four-months after lifting the lid on the faked-injury scandal that has rocked the club since its Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat to Leinster.

Williams this week exposed former director of rugby Dean Richards and Steph Brennan as repeat offenders after detailing four similar incidents involving the pair at Quins in mitigation against his original ban.

He also detailed the steps taken to cover up the fabricated ‘blood’ injury that sparked the controversy, having originally kept quiet, and is now out to help rebuild his and the club’s reputation.

“I deeply regret the role I have played in this unacceptable incident that has done so much damage to the image of rugby union,” he said in a statement after Monday’s ERC appeal hearing in Glasgow.

“I have let down my teammates, the club fans, and I’ll have to live with those actions for the rest of my career.

“In deciding to come clean and do the right thing I have tried honestly to rectify this mess and repay the good faith shown in me by my friends and family.

“I would like to thank the ERC Disciplinary Appeal Panel for their decision to reduce my sanction, and I am relieved they did this. However, I also realise the grave error of judgement that I have made.

“I hope that, as a result of this episode, no player or employee will ever be put in such a compromised position and, if they are, that they will always tell the truth as I wish I had done from the outset.

“It is now my desire to draw a line under this matter and return to train alongside my teammates and friends at Harlequins and make a meaningful contribution to restoring the tarnished image of the club.”

Chief executive Mark Evans has pledged put internal structures and processes to allow ‘whistleblowing’ as the club admits it is going to come under even closer scrutiny.