Brain injury legal action could collapse as rugby authorities push for deadline

Ryland’s Garth said it would contest any attempt to withdraw the case from its legal action and accused the Games’ authorities of delaying the process with unnecessary requests for information.

“Governing agencies seek access to confidential information that is covered by legal privilege – they are not medical records,” said a spokesman.

“For years, the rugby authorities have tried to delay this case, without caring about the distress it is causing to those who are already suffering because of their failure.

“The defendants are fully aware that many of these documents are privileged and confidential

“They also know the scale of the work that the claimants and the legal team have done for full disclosure.

“The defendants have all the information they need and more – they are using this tactic to delay the claimants’ trial.”

The players involved – across the league and union – claim that rugby’s authorities have failed to put safeguards in place to protect them from neurological conditions caused by repeated head trauma. World Rugby, Rugby Football Union (RFU), Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), Rugby Football League (RFL) disclaim liability.

A hearing, likely to be held in late July, will now decide whether to extend the deadline for gathering and sharing information once more, or whether to exclude players who joined the legal action before April 2025 and lack complete paperwork.

England’s Rugby World Cup winners Steve Thompson, Mark Regan and Phil Vickery and former Wales internationals Colin Charvis, Gavin Henson, Ryan Jones, Lee Byrne and Alix Popham are among the high-profile former players involved in the case.