Ex-Wales star Gavin Henson among more than 200 rugby stars suing over brain injuries
England’s World Cup winners Steve Thompson and Phil Vickery – as well as ex-Wales fly-half Gavin Henson – are among those taking legal action against rugby’s governing bodies
Three of the sport’s governing bodies are being sued by over 200 retired rugby union players due to brain problems they received while playing professionally.
Following a decision by London’s High Court, the parties to the lawsuit will have to wait until the following year for their application for a group litigation order (GLO) to be considered. England’s 2003 World Cup heroes Phil Vickery and Steve Thompson are among those suing.
Thompson disclosed that, in December 2020, at the age of 42, he received an early onset dementia diagnosis. In addition, former Wales forward Alix Popham is suing the regulatory agencies, saying his brain injuries have “turned upside down” his entire universe.
The 226 retired players in the action are being represented by Rylands Garth, with Gavin Henson, a former Wales player, also engaged. The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU), and World Rugby are the targets of the action.
The former rugby players have accused the RFU, the WRU, and World Rugby of not taking the necessary precautions to ensure their health and safety. If the GLO is accepted, Rylands Garth will be able to oversee all 226 of the individual litigation collectively.
Three regulating organizations “ought to have known of the likelihood of long-term neurological complications due to cumulative concussive or sub-concussive blows to the head,” according to the players’ attorney, Susan Rodway.
It is stated that players have developed conditions like motor neurone disease, early-onset dementia, depression, and epilepsy as a result of World Rugby, the RFU, and the WRU’s purported inability to recognize this. A few are suing for purported lost wages and potential medical expenses.
A united statement on the subject has been issued by the three regulatory organizations, who are contesting the allegations. It said: “As the sport’s top priority, we continue to listen, care about, and support player welfare. We would like players involved to know this.”
Rugby is as safe a contact sport as it gets, so players and parents can feel secure. Rugby will always make decisions regarding player welfare based on the most recent scientific findings.”
Former England flanker Michael Lipman says the three governing bodies’ purported incompetence has destroyed his life. He played for England from 2004 to 2008. The 43-year-old “suffered at least five episodes of loss of consciousness during a game, which would be sufficient for a classification of mild traumatic brain injury,” according to a neurologist’s reported findings.
The report further states that Lipman “now suffers from headache, sleep disturbance, difficulties with short-term memory, problems with learning, anxiety, depression” .
