Ryan Jones suing WRU and World Rugby after devastating dementia diagnosis

Former Wales captain Ryan Jones is taking legal action against rugby’s governing bodies after being diagnosed with early onset dementia at the age of 41.

The 75-cap Grand Slam-winning forward revealed his diagnosis in an emotional interview with The Sunday Times where he said he felt like his “world was falling apart”. You can read his powerful and moving comments here.

Now it’s been confirmed he has joined a group taking legal action against the game’s authorities for alleged negligence in failing to protect players from the risks caused by concussion. Another former Welsh international Alix Popham is among some 185 ex-players involved in the landmark case, as is English World Cup winner Steve Thompson.

The action is being taken against World Rugby, the Welsh Rugby Union and the RFU. Up until resigning in October 2020, Jones was a high ranking employee of the WRU, in the role of Performance Director.

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Richard Boardman, of Rylands Legal, represents the rugby union players in the lawsuit as well as a further 75 former rugby league players in a separate action against the Rugby Football League.

He told the Daily Mail : “It’s a ticking time bomb. The vast majority of the former players we represent love rugby and don’t want to see it harmed in any way. They just want to make it safer so current and future generations don’t end up like them. These issues aren’t restricted to older generations, but current players too. Elite union players from the northern hemisphere have just finished a season which has lasted 11 months.

“This is why some of the claimants are asking rugby’s governing bodies to make a number of