Dementia victim Scarbrough joins players’ legal case

Former England international Dan Scarbrough said Monday he had joined a legal case against several rugby authorities over their alleged failure to protect players from the risks of concussion.

The 43-year-old Scarbrough was diagnosed in December with a traumatic brain injury, early onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy — a neurodegenerative disease.

Scarbrough has now linked up with a group of eight former players, including England’s 2003 World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson and Wales’ Alix Popham, who are taking action against World Rugby, England’s Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union.

Now head of rugby at Bradford Grammar School in northern

England, Scarbrough told the Press Association: “One of the main drivers for this action, and for speaking out, is to help other former professionals gain access to elite level treatment and deal with injuries sustained throughout our careers, which is effectively cut off once you retire.

“The governing bodies have a responsibility to look after us post-retirement.

“Yet, prevention is better than cure.”

The basis of the players’ claim is that the governing bodies failed to provide sufficient protection when the risks of concussions and sub-concussive injuries were “known and foreseeable.”

Discussions between the law firm representing the players and the rugby authorities concerned are ongoing.