'If there was an award for a headline with the least foundation, this would be it'

A sensational report linking Harlequins Head of Rugby Paul Gustard with a move to the embattled Leicester Tigers has been widely denied.

The report in The Rugby Paper linked Gustard with the top job at Tigers, a claim denied by the club.

A number of stakeholders at both clubs have gone out of their way to express their incredulity with the report. Prior to kick off at Leicester Tigers interim head coach Geordan Murphy called it “irresponsible” reporting when questioned on it by BT.

Earlier in the day, CEO of Leicester Tigers, Simon Cohen branded the article in a Tweet as “If there was an award for a headline with the least foundation, this would be it”.

If there was an award for a headline with the least foundation, this would be it !

— simon cohen (@simonjcohen) December 9, 2018

BT’s Craig Doyle said on air during the broadcast of Racing 92 versus Leicester that Harlequins have also denied the approach.

The reporter in question, Neil Fissler, is sticking to his guns however. When challenged after the report was cited on BT Rugby, Fissler doubled down on the claim.

“They aren’t being truthful with the fans. If I wasn’t 100 per cent sure I’ve got better things to do.”

https://twitter.com/neilfissler/status/1071790412602454022

“I’m 100 per cent happy with the story. Obviously it’s not cut and dry, needs to agree terms. But interest is there”

https://twitter.com/neilfissler/status/1071792773999812608

Harlequins announced that the former England defence coach Paul Gustard would join the London club as Head of Rugby last May.

Tigers parted company with head coach Matt O’Connor with immediate effect just two games into the season. Then assistant coach Murphy took over on an interim basis, assisted by coaches Mark Bakewell, Boris Stankovich and Brett Deacon.