Former players to take legal proceedings against IRFU over brain injuries

An undisclosed number of former rugby players are taking a case against the IRFU in relation to serious brain injuries sustained during their playing careers.

The Irish Times are reporting that proceedings are expected to be issued before October, with the case being taken by Dublin-based solicitors Maguire McClaffey LLP, who specialise in litigation and personal injury law.

Manus McClafferty, a senior partner with the firm, confirmed that Irish players are involved but would not state how many.

"I won't do that. That’s unwise," he explained. "But I can tell you that proceedings are prepared and will, probably, be issued, I believe, by the end of September. I have them ready."

This legal case against the governing body here in Ireland comes alongside proceedings on behalf of a group of professional and semi-professional players against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union. The group have been diagnosed with early-onset dementia and other irreversible neurological impairments.

The claimants, who include former Wales captain Ryan Jones and England’s 2003 World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson, argue that the sport’s governing bodies were negligent in that they failed to take reasonable action to protect players from permanent injury caused by repetitive concussive and sub-concussive blows.

Jones, 41, a member of the British and Irish Lions squad on the 2005 tour of New Zealand, revealed his diagnosis with early-onset dementia and probable CTE in an interview with the Sunday Times earlier this month.

He told the newspaper: "I feel like my world is falling apart.

"I am really scared because I’ve got three children and three step-children and I want to be a fantastic dad.

"I lived 15 years of my life like a