A group of more than 150 former soccer, rugby league and rugby union players suffering from neurological impairments have joined a class-action lawsuit against their respective governing bodies, alleging a failure to protect them from concussion injuries linked to various disorders.
London sports law firm Rylands Garth issued proceedings in court this week on behalf of 100 rugby league players, 40 rugby union players and 15 football players, taking the total number of claimants to 380, reports Reuters.
The players accuse the sports’ governing bodies of failing to protect them from concussion and non-concussion injuries that caused various disorders, including early onset dementia, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and motor-neuron disease.
In a joint statement last year, World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union said they “never stand still” when it came to player welfare.
“Our strategies to prevent, identify and manage head injuries are driven by a passion to safeguard our players and founded on the latest science, evidence and independent expert guidance,” they said.
World Rugby has also recommended the tackle height be lowered in the amateur game and pointed to studies in South Africa and France that showed positive advancements in terms of player safety and overall game experience.
Rylands Garth represents more than 250 rugby union players with brain damage, including England World Cup-winner Steve Thompson and former Wales captain Ryan Jones, in a claim against World Rugby and the governing bodies of England and Wales.
The firm also represents 100 rugby league players as part of a separate but similar potential claim against England’s Rugby Football League.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Highest levels yet for concussion rates in elite rugby – union
England rugby CEO says lawsuit threat over concussion can drive change
Post-concussion problems end Springbok flyhalf’s rugby career
Even one, moderate concussion can lead to cognitive deterioration – large study