NRL could face legal class action
A class action against the NRL on behalf of players suffering concussion is being considered by two law firms.
The firms, Bannister Law and Cahill Lawyers, have been investigating a potential class action for the past year and want current and former players worried about their brain health to come forward.
‘‘We are looking at the clubs’ and associations’ liability for what are, we will allege, reasonably preventable brain injuries,’’ Bannister Law principal Charles Bannister said in a statement yesterday.
‘‘We will also allege that ARL, NRL and the clubs have had the resources, both medical and paramedical, to understand and implement protocols and policies that could and should have protected player welfare long before they were introduced,’’ he added.
The investigation revolves around the degenerative brain condition Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), which has been found in retired American NFL players and athletes from other high impact sports.
There was widespread concern CTE was caused by concussion incidents during play and that the rules of the respective games did not sufficiently take precautions to protect the safety of players.
Recently, league legend Peter Sterling said he will donate his brain to science, while another NRL great, Petero Civoniceva, has urged all former players to have the discussion with their families.
The potential NRL class action was two-pronged.
Firstly, whether the rules took sufficient steps to protect players against concussion incidents.
And secondly, whether rules and safety protocols were implemented properly and allowed players time to recover from concussion incidents without sustaining permanent injury.
The firms said they had already been in contact with many league players who held serious concerns about their brain health, and called for others to follow their lead.