Class-action lawsuit: Concussion saga escalating
REACTION: World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union have issued a joint statement following the Thursday delivery of a pre-action letter of claim from Rylands Law on behalf of players.
The class-action suit includes retired England hooker Steve Thompson – who are taking a concussion lawsuit against the game.
The basis of the claim made on behalf of the nine test cases – Rylands Law says they are talking to over 130 more retired players – is that the sport’s governing bodies failed to provide sufficient protection from the risks caused by concussion.
Rylands Law alleges that the risks of concussions and sub-concussive injuries were “known and foreseeable” and lists 24 failures on the part of World Rugby, RFU and WRU.
That concussion case letter, which referenced former England forwards Thompson and Michael Lipman, former Wales flank Alix Popham, former Wales Under-20 centre Adam Hughes and former England Under-21 back row Neil Spence. has now promoted a joint response from the sport’s global governing body and the unions in England and Wales.
The statement
