RFL under fire as former rugby ace has dementia
FORMER Welsh rugby league star Michael Edwards has criticised the sport for its alleged failure to protect players from the risks caused by concussions after being diagnosed with dementia at the age of 48.
Edwards, who also played for Swinton and Oldham during a career at the top of the game in the 1990s, received a diagnosis of earlyonset dementia and probable CTE this month.
He claims he was treated “like a piece of meat” during his playing days and is now part of a group of former players set to take action against the Rugby Football League.
Great Britain legend Bobbie Goulding and former Scotland international Jason Roach are also involved.
The group have employed lawyers and claim the RFL failed to protect players from the risks of head injuries.
They claim that created a “ticking timebomb” of potentially hundreds of former players, many of whom are now developing neurological issues, including dementia, CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and motor neurone disease.
They argue that the increased risk of brain damage during their respective careers means they are owed a duty of care by the game’s authorities.
Edwards, who played twice for Wales, says the lack of support for former players can have tragic consequences.
“When I played, you’d have a bang on the head, be bleeding, but just play on,” he told the Daily Mail.
“Often after games I’d feel sick and nauseous,” pointing out that in his view: “There were no protocols or aftercare. You were basically treated like a piece of meat.
“There’s no help or support out there.”
The issue regarding head injuries has been placed firmly in the spotlight since former rugby union star Alix Popham revealed he too had been diagnosed with early-onset dementia.
Popham was part of a landmark legal case against the WRU, RFU and World Rugby last year, again over alleged negligence, and has long called to reduce physicality levels away from match-days.
Rylands Legal, who represent the group of 10 players bringing action against the RFL in this latest case, say they are representing as many as 50 ex-rugby league players between the ages of 20 and 50, all of whom are showing symptoms associated with neurological complications.
There’s an increasing feeling that the same worrying symptoms are being seen among former players across the two codes.
“My symptoms came out of the blue two years ago – it was like being hit by a bus,” Edwards added.
“Three years ago I did a 125-mile run and the year before I did the Marathon de Sables, six marathons in six days in the Sahara desert, but all of a sudden I went to pieces.
“I started being clumsy, dropping things all the time. I got headaches, a wave of tiredness over my face. I couldn’t stand bright lights, even my wife turning the light on in the morning would irritate me. Loud noises were painful.
“I just took it on the chin and thought it was because I was getting old, but we had some tests done and discovered I’ve got early dementia. There will be a lot of guys with this condition who don’t even know it.
“They’re big strong guys with a very high tolerance for pain, so they will just be getting on with it. They’ll be walking around in La-La Land, doing tough jobs on construction sites, when they need help.”
In a statement the RFL said: “The Rugby Football League has recently been contacted by solicitors representing a number of former players.
“Rugby league is a contact sport and, while there is an element of risk to playing any sport, player welfare is always of paramount importance.
“As a result of scientific knowledge, the sport of rugby league continues to improve and develop its approach to concussion, head injury assessment, education, management and prevention across the whole game.
“We will continue to use medical evidence and research to reinforce and enhance our approach.”