RFL respond to legal action over head injuries

The legal action being taken by former Rugby League and Rugby Union players has now reached a total of 378 players.

The RFL, along with other organisations, are set to have to deal with a court case where players will claim they suffered brain injuries due to playing the sport.

Covering bodies in football and rugby union will also have to deal with the case which is due to be filed at High Court today according to BBC.

BBC have also reported that the new claimants include 100 former rugby league players and that over 200 ex-rugby players are involved.

Of these, the headline addition is that of Nick Fozzard.

Fozzard started his career at Leeds Rhinos in 1993 prior to playing for Huddersfield Giants and Warrington Wolves.

The best spell of his career came at St Helens, in two stints separated by time with Hull KR.

He also played for Castleford Tigers and Dewsbury Rams.

Speaking to BBC of the decision, he said:

“I once broke my cheekbone, tore my eye ligaments, got concussed,” he said. “I only found out I’d done all that damage a few weeks later. I missed one game.

“The issue isn’t getting hurt, you’re going to get hurt playing rugby league but when you get hurt you need to be fixed afterwards as best you can be and the systems need to be put in there.

“I was never told of any risks. No one said ‘listen this is a really rough, tough sport, these are the risks, this is what could happen to you if you play it and then you know what the score is’.

“But I didn’t know the score. I didn’t know I was going to forget everybody’s names of friends and it would change my personality.”

The RFL responded with the following comments:

“The RFL takes player safety and welfare extremely seriously, and it has been desperately sad to hear of any players’ difficulties.

“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.”