Ex-Wales star Henson among more than 200 rugby stars suing over brain injuries

01 December 2023 , 17:48

439     0

Gavin Henson is one of the many players suing three of rugby's governing bodies (Image: Getty Images)

More than 200 retired rugby union stars are suing three of the sport's governing bodies over brain injuries sustained during their professional careers.

The players involved in the legal action must wait until next year for their application for a group litigation order (GLO) to be decided following a ruling by London's High Court. Those suing include England's 2003 World Cup heroes Steve Thompson and Phil Vickery.

Thompson revealed he had been diagnosed with early onset dementia in December 2020, aged 42. Ex-Wales forward Alix Popham is also suing the governing bodies after claiming his world has been "turned upside down" due to the brain injuries he's sustained.

Rylands Garth is the law firm representing the 226 retired players in the case, with former Wales favourite Gavin Henson also among those involved. The action is against World Rugby, England's Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

The former rugby stars have accused World Rugby, the RFU and the WRU of failing to provide reasonable measures to protect their health and safety. If approved, the GLO will allow the 226 individual lawsuits to be managed together by Rylands Garth.

England star Joe Marler reflects on lowest point after fight with pregnant wife

Susan Rodway, the lawyer who is representing the players, claims the three governing bodies "ought to have known of the likelihood of long-term neurological complications due to cumulative concussive or sub-concussive blows to the head".

The alleged failure of World Rugby, the RFU and the WRU to recognise this is claimed to have caused players to suffer disorders such as motor neurone disease, early onset dementia, depression and epilepsy. Some are suing for alleged loss of earnings and the cost of future care.

Steve Thompson is also among those taking legal action (STEVE ALLEN)

The three governing bodies, who are defending the claims, have released a joint statement on the matter. It read: "We would want players involved to know that we listen, we care and continue to champion player welfare as the sport's number one priority.

"Players and parents can have confidence that rugby is as safe as a contact sport can be. Rugby will always be led by the latest science when taking any action on player welfare."

Michael Lipman, a flanker who played for England between 2004 and 2008, claims his life has been wrecked by the alleged negligence of the three governing bodies. A neurologist’s report says the 43-year-old "suffered at least five episodes of loss of consciousness during a game, which would be sufficient for a classification of mild traumatic brain injury".

The report also claims Lipman "now suffers from headache, sleep disturbance, difficulties with short-term memory, problems with learning, anxiety, depression".

Tom Blow