‘I’d be stuffed’ without my insurance warns James Simpson-Daniel

Former Gloucester wing James Simpson-Daniel has warned of a ticking time-bomb over player insurance, claiming that fewer than half of today’s Premiership stars are adequately covered in the event of injury retirement.
Whilst membership of the Rugby Players Association (RPA) provides a certain level of cover, Simpson-Daniel insists it is not enough and is urging clubs and the game’s authorities to make additional insurance compulsory.
He told The Rugby Paper: “Player insurance is a real concern. You get a bit from the RPA but that won’t last five minutes if you have to retire and I’d be amazed if 50 per cent of players have additional insurance on top.
“It’s probably nearer 30 per cent. A lot of lads just think – and I know because I’ve been there – that they’ll be fine and nothing will happen to them, but then…bang, all of a sudden you’re finished and looking for another job.
“The physicality is getting higher and hardly a game goes by without someone picking up a bad knock. And when you look at concussion and the attention around that, the number of injury retirements won’t drop.
“I took out private insurance four years ago and I’m hoping everything will be signed off, but without that insurance safety net I’d have been stuffed and that happens to a lot of players who are forced out of the game.
“Policies aren’t cheap, they cost three or four grand-a-year, but the cover is good and players should do it. It’s nothing compared with the salaries many players are now being paid and I believe it should be made compulsory.”
Simpson-Daniel admits retirement has been hard to deal with, to the extent that he is finding it difficult to return to Kingsholm for matches.
He explained: “It was a shock because while I’d been out injured for a while, I was always hopeful I’d make it back. I’m six weeks in and it still feels tough.
“I attended my send-off game and the next game against Leicester, but didn’t enjoy it at all. I didn’t like being sat in the crowd and found it very hard.
“I’m sure I’ll go again some time, but not just yet.”
Simpson-Daniel will take time assessing future options, adding: “I’ve got my company, Kings Biltong, which I run with my brothers, but I’m going to feel my way into different things. I’m looking inside and outside the game.”
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