Around a dozen Welsh former amateur rugby union players have joined the legal action against the sport's governing bodies, claiming they are suffering from brain injuries and early onset dementia.
After legal proceedings were issued against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union last month by a group of 185 former players from the professional and semi-professional game, it has now been confirmed that a group of 35 former amateur players - including men and women - will launch their own claim against the sport's authorities in September.
As first reported by The Times, 30 men and five women claim they are suffering with permanent neurological injuries caused by playing the game, and WalesOnline understands that around a dozen men and women involved in the action are Welsh. The Times also report that all five women played at international level, but at a time before the game had turned semi-professional.
Read more: What the players will have to prove when rugby's day of reckoning comes
An English player involved in the action, Alex Abbey, has already spoken publicly about how being diagnosed with probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has caused him to give up his job as a teacher and affected things such as his speech and mobility. He firmly believes being knocked out around 18 times as an amateur player between the ages of 15 and 23 is the cause of his condition.
The claim involving amateur players is being represented by Rylands Legal, the same firm which is representing the numerous former professional and semi-professional players taking action, of which around 50 are understood to be Welsh. They include the likes of former Wales internationals Ryan Jones and Alix Popham in what will be the biggest class action of its kind outside of the US.
Last month, former Wales back-row Popham told WalesOnline he is no longer surprised when players are diagnosed with permanent brain injuries, such as probable CTE and early onset dementia. In the same interview, he expressed his concerns about cases where former players with suspected brain injuries have tragically taken their own lives.
"I’m more surprised now when a player doesn’t have to go on to the next level of testing," he said. "There’s different stages depending on how bad the player is and whether they are struggling or not, in terms of whether they get fully tested and diagnosed.
"It seems that 90 per cent of the players are in a position to be diagnosed and then the scans are confirming the damage on their brains from playing rugby. I believe that is the case for current players too.
"I’ve probably spoken to 90 to 95 per cent of them personally. A lot of them are not in a great way. It just shows the scale of this with regards to men and women who are struggling. They’ve been brave enough to admit something is wrong and put themselves forward for testing. In a strange way, it’s better to know as you have some answers. More people will come forward too."
In response to the 35 amateur players taking action, a joint statement from World Rugby and the WRU said: "It has been incredibly tough to hear the accounts from players over the last few weeks and months. We recognise that it isn’t easy to share these testimonies.
"We have yet to receive any further formal court filings and the legal action being brought against us means we cannot comment on players’ specific circumstances. However, we want them to know that we all care deeply about the welfare of the rugby family. Fully supported by the game’s unions, and working with independent experts and players’ associations, we are focused on making rugby the most progressive sport in the world when it comes to player welfare – a sport that can be played and enjoyed by everyone.
"We remain committed to advancing welfare for all current and former players. Led by science, evidence and independent expert opinion, the recent evolution of return to play protocols after a head injury, as well as research using the latest technology and innovation such as smart mouthguards, show that we refuse to stand still when it comes to player welfare in rugby. Our work in the space will continue at pace despite these latest legal developments."
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