More than 500 former rugby union and league players' lawsuits concerning neurological injuries have been given the green light to continue by London's High Court. The ruling, issued on Friday, comes despite previous failures by the claimants' former lawyers to disclose key medical evidence to the sport's governing bodies.
World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union, the Welsh Rugby Union, the Rugby Football League, and the British Amateur Rugby League Association had argued that the claimants' lawyers repeatedly failed to provide necessary records. They had sought a ruling to end the cases for over 500 former professional and amateur players across both codes.
However, Judge Jeremy Cook stated in a written ruling that the cases could proceed once the missing documents are produced, adding that the "individual claimants are blameless." The former players allege that repeated concussive and sub-concussive blows led to serious neurological conditions, claiming governing bodies breached their duty of care.
Almost 800 former rugby union players, including 2003 World Cup winners Steve Thompson and Phil Vickery, are suing World Rugby, the RFU, and the WRU. Additionally, over 300 former rugby league players are pursuing legal action. The governing bodies dispute the existence of a duty of care that extends to long-term neurological risks, with World Rugby arguing that injuries are an "inherent risk" in the sport.