Latest news with #SteveThompson
1News
4 days ago
- Sport
- 1News
More than 1000 former rugby players join concussion lawsuit
The number of former rugby players taking legal action against sports governing bodies on claims they suffered brain injuries during their careers has grown to more than 1000, a British law firm said overnight. Rylands Garth, based in London, said more than 520 ex-players from rugby union and rugby league joined the lawsuit by Friday last week, which was the deadline for new applicants set by a court ahead of a hearing in July and before the case potentially goes to trial next year. It takes the total number of players who are part of the lawsuit to approximately 1100, Rylands Garth said in a statement. The former players contend, according to Rylands Garth, that "rugby governing bodies failed to take reasonable action to protect them from the impacts of concussive and sub-concussive blows during their playing careers, despite knowing of the risks". Claimants are seeking compensation from World Rugby, the English Rugby Football Union and Welsh Rugby Union — governing bodies in 15-a-side rugby — and the English Rugby Football League and British Amateur Rugby League Association — from 13-a-side rugby league — for lost earnings, medical bills and care costs associated with their injuries, the firm said. ADVERTISEMENT "Rylands Garth is also calling for urgent and substantive reform of the game to better protect the safety of current and future players — including the creation of an independent brain health ombudsman for the sport," it said. Among those to have previously joined the class action was World Cup-winning former England hooker Steve Thompson, former New Zealand prop Carl Hayman and former Wales flanker Alix Popham. "This surge in claimants exposes the deep-rooted issues in rugby," Rylands Garth said, adding: "Players continue to play almost all-year round, with many elite players soon to embark on extremely physical summer tours across the rugby world. We will continue to fight for justice for those who gave so much to the game." In a joint statement issued by World Rugby, the RFU and the WRU, the governing bodies said they "are aware of the latest update shared by the claimants' legal representatives with the final number of claimants." "We now await full details of their diagnosis and the claims being made. Our thoughts are with any former player facing challenges. "Across the game, we continue to build on a strong foundation of world-leading initiatives designed to make rugby union as safe as possible." That includes "smart mouthguard technology in the elite game, trials of lower tackle height in the community game, and the continued rollout of brain health services to support former players". ADVERTISEMENT Rylands Garth said it also represents approximately 130 former football players who are taking similar legal action against soccer governing bodies. The next court hearing for the soccer case is due on June 26.
4 days ago
- Sport
More than 1,000 former rugby players in concussion lawsuit
The number of former rugby players taking legal action against sports governing bodies on claims they suffered brain injuries during their careers has grown to more than 1,000, a British law firm said on Monday. Rylands Garth, based in London, said more than 520 ex-players from rugby union and rugby league joined the lawsuit by Friday last week, which was the deadline for new applicants set by a court ahead of a hearing in July and before the case potentially goes to trial next year. It takes the total number of players who are part of the lawsuit to approximately 1,100, Rylands Garth said in a statement. The former players contend, according to Rylands Garth, that 'rugby governing bodies failed to take reasonable action to protect them from the impacts of concussive and sub-concussive blows during their playing careers, despite knowing of the risks.' Claimants are seeking compensation from World Rugby, the English Rugby Football Union and Welsh Rugby Union — governing bodies in 15-a-side rugby — and the English Rugby Football League and British Amateur Rugby League Association — from 13-a-side rugby league — for lost earnings, medical bills and care costs associated with their injuries, the firm said. 'Rylands Garth is also calling for urgent and substantive reform of the game to better protect the safety of current and future players — including the creation of an independent brain health ombudsman for the sport,' it said. Among those to have previously joined the class action was World Cup-winning former England hooker Steve Thompson, former New Zealand prop Carl Hayman and former Wales flanker Alix Popham. 'This surge in claimants exposes the deep-rooted issues in rugby,' Rylands Garth said, adding: "Players continue to play almost all-year round, with many elite players soon to embark on extremely physical summer tours across the rugby world. We will continue to fight for justice for those who gave so much to the game.' In a joint statement issued by World Rugby, the RFU and the WRU, the governing bodies said they 'are aware of the latest update shared by the claimants' legal representatives with the final number of claimants.' 'We now await full details of their diagnosis and the claims being made. Our thoughts are with any former player facing challenges. 'Across the game, we continue to build on a strong foundation of world-leading initiatives designed to make rugby union as safe as possible." That includes 'smart mouthguard technology in the elite game, trials of lower tackle height in the community game, and the continued rollout of brain health services to support former players.' Rylands Garth said it also represents approximately 130 former soccer players who are taking similar legal action against soccer governing bodies. The next court hearing for the soccer case is due on June 26.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
More than 1,000 former rugby players in concussion lawsuit
The number of former rugby players taking legal action against sports governing bodies on claims they suffered brain injuries during their careers has grown to more than 1,000, a British law firm said on Monday. Rylands Garth, based in London, said more than 520 ex-players from rugby union and rugby league joined the lawsuit by Friday last week, which was the deadline for new applicants set by a court ahead of a hearing in July and before the case potentially goes to trial next year. It takes the total number of players who are part of the lawsuit to approximately 1,100, Rylands Garth said in a statement. The former players contend, according to Rylands Garth, that 'rugby governing bodies failed to take reasonable action to protect them from the impacts of concussive and sub-concussive blows during their playing careers, despite knowing of the risks.' Claimants are seeking compensation from World Rugby, the English Rugby Football Union and Welsh Rugby Union — governing bodies in 15-a-side rugby — and the English Rugby Football League and British Amateur Rugby League Association — from 13-a-side rugby league — for lost earnings, medical bills and care costs associated with their injuries, the firm said. 'Rylands Garth is also calling for urgent and substantive reform of the game to better protect the safety of current and future players — including the creation of an independent brain health ombudsman for the sport,' it said. Among those to have previously joined the class action was World Cup-winning former England hooker Steve Thompson, former New Zealand prop Carl Hayman and former Wales flanker Alix Popham. 'This surge in claimants exposes the deep-rooted issues in rugby,' Rylands Garth said, adding: 'Players continue to play almost all-year round, with many elite players soon to embark on extremely physical summer tours across the rugby world. We will continue to fight for justice for those who gave so much to the game.' In a joint statement issued by World Rugby, the RFU and the WRU, the governing bodies said they 'are aware of the latest update shared by the claimants' legal representatives with the final number of claimants.' 'We now await full details of their diagnosis and the claims being made. Our thoughts are with any former player facing challenges. 'Across the game, we continue to build on a strong foundation of world-leading initiatives designed to make rugby union as safe as possible.' That includes 'smart mouthguard technology in the elite game, trials of lower tackle height in the community game, and the continued rollout of brain health services to support former players.' Rylands Garth said it also represents approximately 130 former soccer players who are taking similar legal action against soccer governing bodies. The next court hearing for the soccer case is due on June 26. ___ AP rugby:
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
More than 1,000 former rugby players in concussion lawsuit
The number of former rugby players taking legal action against sports governing bodies on claims they suffered brain injuries during their careers has grown to more than 1,000, a British law firm said on Monday. Rylands Garth, based in London, said more than 520 ex-players from rugby union and rugby league joined the lawsuit by Friday last week, which was the deadline for new applicants set by a court ahead of a hearing in July and before the case potentially goes to trial next year. Advertisement It takes the total number of players who are part of the lawsuit to approximately 1,100, Rylands Garth said in a statement. The former players contend, according to Rylands Garth, that 'rugby governing bodies failed to take reasonable action to protect them from the impacts of concussive and sub-concussive blows during their playing careers, despite knowing of the risks.' Claimants are seeking compensation from World Rugby, the English Rugby Football Union and Welsh Rugby Union — governing bodies in 15-a-side rugby — and the English Rugby Football League and British Amateur Rugby League Association — from 13-a-side rugby league — for lost earnings, medical bills and care costs associated with their injuries, the firm said. 'Rylands Garth is also calling for urgent and substantive reform of the game to better protect the safety of current and future players — including the creation of an independent brain health ombudsman for the sport,' it said. Advertisement Among those to have previously joined the class action was World Cup-winning former England hooker Steve Thompson, former New Zealand prop Carl Hayman and former Wales flanker Alix Popham. 'This surge in claimants exposes the deep-rooted issues in rugby,' Rylands Garth said, adding: "Players continue to play almost all-year round, with many elite players soon to embark on extremely physical summer tours across the rugby world. We will continue to fight for justice for those who gave so much to the game.' In a joint statement issued by World Rugby, the RFU and the WRU, the governing bodies said they 'are aware of the latest update shared by the claimants' legal representatives with the final number of claimants.' 'We now await full details of their diagnosis and the claims being made. Our thoughts are with any former player facing challenges. Advertisement 'Across the game, we continue to build on a strong foundation of world-leading initiatives designed to make rugby union as safe as possible." That includes 'smart mouthguard technology in the elite game, trials of lower tackle height in the community game, and the continued rollout of brain health services to support former players.' Rylands Garth said it also represents approximately 130 former soccer players who are taking similar legal action against soccer governing bodies. The next court hearing for the soccer case is due on June 26. ___ AP rugby:
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Rugby concussion lawsuit rises to 1,100 former players
More than 520 additional former rugby players have joined a concussion lawsuit against the sport's authorities, according to the law firm bringing the Garth says there are now more than 1,100 former players involved, with 784 from rugby union and 319 from rugby Thompson, Mark Regan and Phil Vickery - part of England's 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning squad - former Wales stars Gavin Henson, Colin Charvis and Ryan Jones and England and British and Lions scrum-half Harry Ellis are among those seeking damages from World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby November, former British and Irish Lions duo Lee Byrne and Phil Greening were confirmed to have joined the concussion former players claim the governing bodies were negligent in failing to take reasonable action to protect them from serious brain injuries.A similar action is being taken against the Rugby Football League (RFL) and the British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA)."Players continue to play almost all-year round, with many elite players soon to embark on extremely physical summer tours across the rugby world. We will continue to fight for justice for those who gave so much to the game," a Rylands Garth spokesperson said. Medical assessments carried out on behalf of the company suggest two-thirds of the claimants in the lawsuit against rugby league authorities showed symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).One of the claimants in the rugby league case is Roy Heaney, who played for Wigan and Salford in the 1980s, and was diagnosed with early-onset dementia and probable told BBC Sport he sustained regular concussions and the care he received while training and playing matches during his rugby league career was 30 May marked the final opportunity for new players to join the legal actions before the case potentially goes to trial next Garth also represents approximately 130 former football players, taking similar action against the Football Association and others.
