‘Rising risk of players taking their own lives’

Forty more players suffering from brain damage have joined the legal action against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and Welsh Rugby Union.

The three governing bodies now face claims from a total of 260 players suing for negligence in respect of serious health issues allegedly caused by repeated blows to the head. The law firm bringing the action admit that some are in a ‘suicidal’ state.

They also issue a stark warning as to the savage physical toll on a global scale; that ‘up to one in two professional players will end up with some kind of neurological impairment’.

Richard Boardman, leading the action on behalf of the London law firm Rylands Garth, told The Rugby Paper: “A lot of the lads are depressed and, in some distressing cases, they are suicidal.

“Morally, we have a duty to look after them in every way possible.

“Tragically, one Rugby League player whom we represent took his own life a few months ago. There are many others who have killed themselves, rugby players with issues over depression and anxiety which we believe are linked to brain damage from playing the game.

“We are saying there is a risk of more guys taking their own lives. About 50 of the claimants have gone public but the majority have no wish to do so. “I know there are hundreds of former Rugby Union, Rugby League and footballers out there suffering from dementia and other neurological issues whose problems have been caused by brain damage sustained playing their sport.

“Of contact sports, including the NFL (American football) and ARL (Australian Rugby League), Rugby Union is the most alarming. Why? Because the amount of physical contact work done in training in Rugby Union is often considerably greater.

Claim: Steve Thompson

“It’s no exaggeration to say that there are thousands of current and former rugby players who are in a bad way. We believe up to one in two professional players will end up with some kind of neurological impairment. That is the scale of the issue.

“Our research tells us that as many as 400 rugby players have died prematurely over the last 10 years from issues related to brain damage.”

Steve Thompson, whose status as an England World Cup winner makes him the highest profile claimant, has admitted to being put on suicide watch at one stage following his diagnosis with early onset dementia.

Of the 260 taking action, half are believed to have played international rugby at either senior or under-age level. Rylands are also acting for 102 Rugby League players, including former Great Britain scrum-half Bobbie Goulding, and 15 footballers.

Rylands say their claim ‘isn’t just about financial compensation’. It’s also about making the game safer, ensuring current and former players get tested so that if they are suffering a brain injury they can get the clinical help they need.

“The players we represent love the game. We aim to challenge the current perception of the governing bodies, to reach a point where they accept the connection between the repetitive blows to the head and permanent neurological injury, to take steps to protect players and support those who are injured.”

World Rugby said in a statement: “We care deeply about every member of the rugby family and have been saddened by the brave personal accounts of former players who are struggling with health issues.

“We wish to let them know that we care, we listen and we never stand still when it comes to further cementing rugby as the most progressive sport on athlete welfare.’