75 RUGBY LEAGUE STARS SUE OVER BRAIN INJURIES
SOME 75 rugby league players are tomorrow launching legal action against the Rugby Football League over brain injuries.
They have illnesses such as dementia, Parkinson’s and epilepsy and are the sport’s first stars to take such action.
They join 220 rugby union pros who launched a claim earlier this year. Forty ex-footballers are ready to bring a claim for dementia-related negligence, too.
Former Great Britain and St Helens scrum-half Bobbie Goulding is among the players to be haunted by the effects of playing rugby league.
Bobbie, 50, is among many who first suffered symptoms in their 30s, more than a decade before their diagnosis.
He said: “We are crying out for help. It’s the biggest pandemic that’s ever going to hit the sport and it’s happening now. But Rugby League has washed its hands of us.”
The father-of-four was diagnosed last year with dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy – known as boxer’s brain, as it is caused by repeated head blows. Wife Paula, 53, was with him when he was given the grim news.
He said: “When the specialist said, ‘You’ve got early onset dementia,’ Paula and I both started crying. Our lives changed in an instant. The scariest bit is not knowing how fast it will progress. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring.
“I’ve never been scared of anything in my life, but I’m scared of this.
“I sit looking out the window for six or seven hours. I don’t realise time is passing. There’s mad, bad headaches, where you feel so sick you can’t lift your head off the pillow and I have to take anti-dizziness tablets every day, or the room starts spinning.
Concussion
“I keep forgetting things. The other day I went to get something to eat and, without thinking, I took my teeth out and put them in the fridge. I couldn’t find them for 24 hours.”
Fellow claimants include England’s Francis Maloney, Welshmen Mickii Edwards and Lenny Woodard, and
Scots Jason Roach and
Ryan Macdonald.
Their lawyer will list
53 key allegations in a
formal “letter of claim” tomorrow – five days before the Rugby League Cup starts in Newcastle. It accuses the RFL of neglect for failing to take reasonable steps to ensure head injuries were properly assessed and treated.
It also stands accused of not protecting youngsters, by allowing 16-year-olds to play professionally.
Former Wales international Mickii, 48, has dementia and suspected CTE and has lost four ex-teammates to suicide.
He said: “Two years ago I was having suicidal thoughts, too. I get severe pain above my eyes and I get really tired mentally. I get angry with myself.” New demands include limiting physical contact in training and safety-first protocols at all levels. There are also calls for better postconcussive care, extending rest and recovery periods after head injuries to at least 21 days and a concussion database and annual “MOTS” including brain scans to identify problems.
The prospect of a big payout has seen the RFL’S annual
insurance bill quadruple to £1.5million. Bobbie said: “Before I was diagnosed, I was all set to commit suicide. The only thing that stopped me was looking to my left and seeing a photo of my children. I collapsed on the floor and burst out crying and didn’t stop for hours. I’ve had maybe 40 players contact me who want to end it all and I’ve sobbed with them.
“Frightened to death, they don’t know where to turn. I’ve tried to get them tested and get them help, but no one from the sport has contacted them.”
Bobbie also takes a range of extracts he hopes can slow down his dementia. He follows a tough daily training regime and now reads more to stay alert.
A spokesman for Rugby Football League said: “The RFL takes player safety and welfare extremely seriously, and it has been desperately sad to hear of any players’ difficulties. 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.”