More than 400 ex-rugby players died early from brain injuries, claim lawyers

The lawyers working with more than 75 former rugby league players to take legal action against the Rugby Football League – as well as 175 former rugby union players in a similar action – believe that more than 400 players across both codes have died early due to neurological defects from playing the game and have reiterated the need for the league to make “substantive, immediate changes” to prevent further players from suffering the same.

A group including the former Great Britain international Bobbie Goulding have launched a lawsuit against rugby league’s governing body over what they say is a failure to protect them adequately from the risks of brain damage caused by concussive and sub-concussive injuries.

Richard Boardman of Rylands Legal, who is leading the actions against both codes, described the issue as an epidemic and said that each week more and more players are reaching out to join the lawsuit against the RFL, which is still in its pre-action phase and is some way from reaching a conclusion, the Observer understands.

“There’s been a couple more this week alone,” Boardman said. “It comes in dribs and drabs because some guys feel an allegiance to the sport and that it’s an attack on the game. However, we firmly believe it’s not an attack and that we’re simply trying to help players who are struggling in retirement with brain damage. What’s certain is that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of current and former rugby players in a bad way across the United Kingdom and the wider rugby world. It is an absolute epidemic.”

Boardman stressed it was a “certainty” people are dying early due to the conditions and issues they developed while playing rugby. “We believe 400-plus rugby players across both codes, whether