Gavin Henson and Phil Vickery amongst over 200 ex-rugby stars taking authorized motion over mind accidents

England’s World Cup winner Phil Vickery and former Welsh fly-half Gavin Henson are amongst greater than 200 retired rugby gamers suing three of the game’s governing our bodies over neurological accidents, it has emerged.

It comes after London’s High Court dominated the gamers should wait till subsequent 12 months for his or her software for a bunch litigation order (GLO) to be determined.

England World Cup winners Steve Thompson, who revealed in December 2020 that he had been identified with early onset dementia, and Mark Regan are additionally amongst these taking authorized motion.

Former Wales ahead Alix Popham, who has revealed how his life has ben “turned upside down” because of mind harm sustained whereas taking part in rugby, can also be on the checklist launched this night.

Rylands Garth, the regulation agency representing the 226 former gamers, have utilized for a GLO – which might imply the person lawsuits will be managed collectively – within the case towards World Rugby, England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

The claimants allege the three governing our bodies didn’t put in place affordable measures to guard the well being and security of gamers.

Their lawyer Susan Rodway stated in court docket filings the defendants “ought to have known of the likelihood of long-term neurological complications due to cumulative concussive or sub-concussive blows to the head”.

This alleged failure is alleged to have brought on issues corresponding to motor neurone illness, early onset dementia, power traumatic encephalopathy, epilepsy and Parkinson’s illness.

She added that a number of the particular person circumstances, the place gamers are suing for lack of earnings and the price of future care, might be valued “well into the tens of millions” of kilos.

World Rugby, the RFU and WRU didn’t tackle the deserves of the lawsuits at Friday’s listening to, however are defending the claims.

They stated in a joint assertion earlier this week that they have been unable to touch upon the case or contact gamers, as that they had but to obtain full particulars of the claims.

“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,” they stated.

“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.”

The rugby union case is certainly one of three related circumstances introduced by Rylands Garth, which additionally represents former rugby league and soccer gamers.

The full checklist of gamers taking authorized motion

Adam Hughes
Adam Black
Adam Eustace
Adam Palfrey
Alan Awcock
Alexander Cheesman
Alexander Lundberg
Alfie To’oala Vaeluaga
Alix Popham
Andrew Clarke
Andrew Coombs
Andrew Lamerton
Andrew Millward
Andrew Springgay
Ben Pegna
Callum Wilson
Carl Hamans
Carl Hayman
Carwyn Jones
Charlie Beech
Christian Short
Christopher Arnold
Christopher Cracknell
Christopher Jones
Christopher Planchant
Christopher Whitehead
Christopher Simpson-Daniel
Craig Hawkins
Dafydd James
Dale Rasmussen
Daniel Roberts
Daniel Scarborough
David Corkery
David Jackson
David Llewelyn
David Maddocks
David Merlin
Derwyn Jones
Dominic Ryan
Duncan Bell
Emyr Lewis
Finlay Barnham
Gareth Cull
Gareth Owen
Gareth Price
Gareth Williams
Gavin Evans
Gavin Thomas
Geraint Davies
Hal Luscombe
Harry Ellis
Hywel Jenkins
Ian Gough
Ian Jones
Inoke Afeaki
Jack Cobden
James Collins
James Griffiths
James Voss
Jamie Cudmore
Jamie Ringer
Jamie Robinson
Jason Hobson
John Carter
John Paul O’Reilly
Jonathan Ross Coombs
Joseph Buckle
Joseph Cobden
Joseph Trayfoot
Justin Blanchet
Justin Wring
Kieran Low
Leigh Davies
Lenny Woodard
Leo Halavatau
Lou Reed
Luke Fielden
Luke Wishnowsky
Lyndon Bateman
Mark Perego
Mark Regan MBE
Mark Robinson
Mathew Vaughan
Matthew Dwyer
Matthew Pewtner
Michael Hook
Michael Lipman
Michael Myerscough
Michael Powell
Michael Wilson
Mouritz Botha
Neil Clark
Neil Spence
Neil Walker
Nick Williams
Nigel Bezani
Oliver Hayes
Oliver Hodge
Oliver Phillips
Paul Boulard
Paul Clapham
Paul Jones
Paul Pook
Paul Sampson
Paul Smithson
Paul Volley
Peter Short
Philip Nilsen
Philip Vickery MBE
Regan King
Rhys Gill
Rhys James
Rhys Thomas
Richard Thorpe
Robert Green
Robert Hoadley
Robert Kydd
Robson Blake
Roger Wilson
Rory Pitman
Rory Watts-Jones
Russell Kesley
Ryan Jones MBE
Samuel Blanchet
Saul Nelson
Sean Lamont
Simon Gardiner
Simon Mason
Steve Thompson MBE
Stephen Winn
Tevita Taumoepeau
Theo Brophy-Clews
Thomas Pierce
Thomas Rock
Timothy Cowley
Vaughan Going
Aakesh Rai
Adam French
Alexander Abbey
Alexander Barnes
Alun Griffiths
Andrew Herbert
Anne Marie Livesey as Litigation Friend for Martin Livesey
Ben Pickett
Ben Rider
Caer Davies
Ceri Jones
Colin Wood
Craig Harvey
Craig Thomas
Daniel Napier
David Riley
Deian Thomas
Dianne Williams as private consultant for Ivor Wyn Williams
Gerwyn Davies
Glen Webbe
Hugo Dickson
Ieuan Cranswick
Jack Yates
Martin Frost as Litigation Friend for James Batterham
Jonathan Purnell
Jon Godson as Litigation Friend for Alan Godson
Joseph Cook
Joshua Hosford
Kristian Trezise
Kyle Green
Lewis Edwards
Mark Catterall
Matthew Clement
Meghan Mutrie
Michael Davies
Michael Lloyd Jones as private consultant of Peter Jones (deceased)
Michael Powell
Michael Watkins
Claire Riou as Litigation Friend for Nicolas Riou
Non Evans
Oliver Cavanagh
Paul Ringer
Paul Rudd
Paul Thompson
Rhys Watkins
Richard Howells
Robert Cunningham
Robert Johnston
Ryan Griffiths
Sean Gilbertson
Shaun Doughton
Shaun Gustard
Stephen Williams
Stephen Butcher
Steven Sugar
Teresa O’Reilly
Timothy Graves
Ruth Walters as Litigation Friend for Trefor Evans
Ben Gerry
Brendan Lyons
Brett Sheehan
Christopher Stevens
Colin Charvis
Darren Morris
David Bishop
Gavin Henson
Ian Greenslade
Jack Stanley
John Leota
Jordan Davies
Joseph Grabham
Joshua Rhys James
Leighton Jones
Lewis Rawlins
Mark Ridehalgh
Matthew Jones
Michael Peters
Morgan Stoddart
Nathan Strong
Oliver Catterjee
Paul Knight
Paul Whittaker
Richard Armswood
Ross Johnston
Scott Crosby
Scott Hicks
Simon Bunting
Wayne Booth
William Evans
William Hurrell