Rugby union chiefs will today be hit by a concussion lawsuit taken on behalf of nearly 200 players with brain damage. Rylands Legal has issued proceedings on behalf of professional and semi-pro players against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and Welsh Rugby Union.
The claimants include 2003 World Cup winner Steve Thompson and former Wales captain Ryan Jones, who have been diagnosed with early onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the age of 41. Other former players such as ex-England hooker Thompson, Dan Scarbrough, Carl Hayman, Neil Clark, Jason Hobson, Lenny Woodard, Neil Spence and Michael Lipman have all come forward.
Wales Online understands the number of former Welsh professionals involved to be around 50 and all of the players involved in the action are in their 30s, 40s and 50s. The threat of this claim, which could have severe consequences for a cash-strapped sport, has hung over rugby since December 2020 when Thompson first revealed his diagnosis.
