Harlequins’ heavily-laden trophy cabinet suggests a rugby union club bathing in success. But the faded silverware dates back to the days of rugby union as a sport of amateurs, played hard but fair.

Season-ticket holders at Harlequins, the club at the centre of the “Bloodgate” scandal, which is raising alarming questions about rugby’s gilded reputation, yearn for success to match the Premiership club’s impressive modern facilities at its Stoop ground, a few hundred yards from English rugby’s headquarters in Twickenham.