No contact yet on dementia claims
ENGLAND RFU chief executive
Bill Sweeney says English rugby officials have yet to receive any legal contact from the group of former players preparing claims for negligence against national unions.
The group said it was preparing lawsuits against the England RFU, the Welsh Rugby Union, and global governing body World Rugby. ‘‘It’s important to point out that we haven’t received any formal legal approaches yet,’’ Sweeney said. ‘‘We don’t have any specific case or specific conditions laid out, so it’s a bit premature really and hypothetical to speculate . . . And we haven’t got into any detailed discussions on insurance or cover because we don’t know the nature of what’s been presented yet.’’
Sweeney said they tried to contact Steve Thompson – one of England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup winners and one of the group of players involved in the claim – this week but haven’t connected.
Thompson said he was one of the ex-players suffering early dementia symptoms in their 40s, and that he could remember any of England’s matches at the 2003 World Cup.
Sweeney pledged the RFU would remain ‘‘open and transparent’’ in reacting to the specific situation, but also in continuing its work to minimize concussions and improve player safety in rugby. ‘‘It’s a very serious matter, a very serious moment for us; we all love this game,’’ Sweeney said.
‘‘We recognise the difficulties the families are going through, and then bringing these stories
into the public . . . to improve the game and make it better and safer . . . it’s impossible not to be moved by it.
‘‘It’s not a time to hide, not a time to go missing; it’s really a time to be open and transparent.’’
The RFU does not have any plan for monitoring or testing retired players when it comes to head or brain injuries, Sweeney said.
‘‘It’s not to say that’s something we wouldn’t do. If that’s something we need to consider and build in, then we’ll look at that.’’