Amateur rugby players have followed their professional counterparts in launching a lawsuit over brain injuries causing dementia. More than 55 players sent a “letter of claim” to rugby governing bodies, including the Rugby Football Union, as a prelude to a lawsuit.
The players claim that governing bodies were negligent in failing to protect them from injuries associated with neurological disorders like early onset dementia, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Parkinson’s disease and motor neurone disease.
A similar claim was brought last year on behalf of professional rugby players by sports law firm Rylands Garth. Richard Boardman, from the firm which represents more than 275 rugby and football ex-professionals, described the situation as a “ticking timebomb”. He added: “This is a life and death issue for many… It’s not just about financial compensation, it is also about making the game safer and getting tested and diagnosed for urgent clinical support.”