World rugby, UK bodies lose bid to throw out concussion lawsuits
· CNA · JoinRead a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
LONDON, Aug 21 : More than 500 ex-rugby union and league players' lawsuits over neurological injuries can continue, London's High Court ruled on Friday, despite their former lawyers' failure to disclose key medical evidence to governing bodies.
World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union, plus the Rugby Football League and the British Amateur Rugby League Association, argued the claimants' lawyers had repeatedly failed to provide records.
They asked for a ruling which would end the cases of more than 500 former professional and amateur players over both codes.
But lawyers representing the claimants argued they had provided the vast majority of the documents required and stressed the litigation's wider importance for contact sports in the UK.
CNA Games
Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time
Buzzword
Create words using the given letters
Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser
Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge
Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
Show More
Show Less
Judge Jeremy Cook said in a written ruling that the cases could continue subject to the production of the missing documents, adding that the "individual claimants are blameless".
The case began in 2022 but has been dogged by delays over disclosure, as has a parallel action by ex-rugby league players.
Almost 800 former rugby union players – including Steve Thompson and Phil Vickery, members of England's 2003 World Cup-winning team – are suing World Rugby, the RFU and the WRU. More than 300 former rugby league players are also taking legal action.
The ex-players say repeated concussive and sub-concussive blows left them with serious neurological conditions and allege the governing bodies breached their duty of care by failing to protect them from those risks.
The governing bodies, however, dispute that there is, or was, any such duty of care that extended to include the long-term risk of serious neurological conditions and World Rugby argued in its written defence that injuries are an "inherent risk" in rugby.
Newsletter
Recommended Read
Subscribe to CNA's Recommended Read
A single handpicked story that we think you shouldn't miss. Just one a day.
Sign up for our newsletters
Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox
Get the CNA app
Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories
Get WhatsApp alerts
Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app