Former ABs prop commits to concussion legal action Mark Reason: Legal action vital
Rugby players’ action now has its first New Zealand link as Neemia Tialata invokes his Samoan heritage, his father’s memory and need to help other players as reasons he’s joining brain injuries court case.
FORMER All Blacks frontrower Neemia Tialata has joined the legal action for negligence against authorities over brain injuries suffered playing rugby.
The 43-test All Black and member of the 2007 World Cup squad has given awritten assurance hewill join the legal action, Wellington barrister Tim Castle said.
Tialata, now 38, was the victim of a punch in 2007 when playing for Wellington against Hawke’s Bay. The assailant was not sent off at the time, but Tialata only came roundwhen he found himself sitting on the replacements bench.
He now has headaches and mood swings and other problems associated with that punch and all the other concussive blows he suffered over the course of a long career that also took in Bayonne, Toulouse and Narbonne.
Tialata committed to the claim, not for his own sake, but to encourage others to come forward and to support current and future players, Castle indicated.
‘‘I have decided to join the claim of my fellow players to encourage others to come forward and to give them the support they need,’’ Tialata said.
‘‘My Samoan heritage is important to me and I feel doing this is somethingmy father would wish for me if he were still alive. I hold myself out to help the community so that the players of the future don’t suffer some of the things that my generation are now suffering. I hope and pray that others will feel able to join me in this action. Together we are strong.’’
Tialata and Castle will form part of a strong New Zealand front row, perhaps aided by Carl Hayman, for the action. Castle, a Wellington barrister and international sports lawyer, has acted as a trusted agent and manager for many Ma¯ori and Pasifika players.
‘‘I would love New Zealand Rugby to come out and support the players,’’ Castle said. ‘‘We are seeing too many players across a generation who are tragically damaged at a young age. We have to usher in a new whakaaro.
‘‘Now is the moment in time for collaboration. I ask administrators across the globe to come together. I ask them to acknowledge the problems of the past, to remedy them today and to protect the players for the future. I call on the decision makers to do the right thing by these young men.’’
England hooker Steve Thompson, former England loose forward andMelbourne Rebel Michael Lipman and Wales loosie Alix Popham are part of an eight-strong ‘‘test
I would love New Zealand Rugby to come out and support the players. We are seeing too many players across a generation who are tragically damaged at a young age. We have to usher in a new whakaaro. Now is the moment in time for collaboration.’
group’’ for a potentially much larger action.
It has targeted World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union, for ‘‘failure to protect (the claimants) from the risks caused by concussions’’.
Any action by an All Black would likely be against World Rugby and New Zealand Rugby.
Richard Boardman, of Rylands Law, is representing more than 100 players, many of whom show symptoms of neurological problems. ‘‘The vast majority of the former players we represent love the game and don’t want to see it harmed in any way,’’ he said.