Concussion case: Rugby must ‘change or die’

• Author: RUGBY Ben Coles of the Telegraph
• Published date: 28 July 2022
• Publication title: Northern Advocate, The (Whangarei, New Zealand)

Telegraph Sport can reveal new details of the lawsuit that was due to be filed at court on behalf of a group of professional and semi-professional players including Alix Popham, the former Wales international, as part of the biggest “class action” lawsuit outside of the United States

Popham, who was diagnosed with early-onset dementia aged just 40, has urged governing bodies to take immediate action after claiming they were negligent for failing to protect players from debilitating brain injuries.

The lawsuit issued to the court by Rylands Law, representing the players, reveals:

● The class action covers players ranging from their twenties to their sixties

● Another 50 players are going through testing, or waiting for results, with around two joining the legal proceedings every week

● There are fears players will take their own lives if not supported

● Female players are now confirmed as part of the claimants

● As many as “a few dozen” amateur rugby players are involved

● There are concerns about how the NHS will cope with taking care of high numbers of retired professional...