Seventy-five brain-damaged former rugby league players to launch legal action against the sport’s governing body, with former England star Bobbie Goulding among those suing just DAYS before a home World Cup
- A large group of brain damaged former rugby league players are to sue the body
- Former England star Bobbie Goulding is among those involved in the legal action
- Rylands Legal will serve a letter of claim over issues on Monday or Tuesday
- A home World Cup starts on Saturday when England face Samoa in Newcastle
A group of 75 brain-damaged former rugby league players are launching legal action against the sport’s governing body — just days before the home World Cup.
Former Great Britain and England scrum-half Bobbie Goulding is among the stars suing the Rugby Football League over an alleged failure to protect them from brain injuries caused by concussion.
The 50-year-old has early onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), as have fellow claimants Jason Roach, Ryan MacDonald, Mickii Edwards, Lenny Woodard and Francis Maloney.
Former England rugby league player Bobbie Goulding is among a party suing the RFL
Goulding played for a number of teams throughout his career but has early onset of dementia
Rylands Legal will serve a letter of claim either on Monday or Tuesday with the World Cup starting on Saturday with England against Samoa in Newcastle.
‘We are seeing the same worrying symptoms in cases across both codes of rugby,’ said Richard Boardman of Rylands Legal. ‘This claim isn’t just about financial compensation, it is also about making the game safer.’
Doctors for England and St Helens prop James Graham are concerned by ‘dark spots’ on a recent brain scan, thought to be caused by repetitive head trauma.
The 37-year-old says he endured more than 100 concussions and 18,000 collisions during his career.
The RFL said it ‘takes player safety and welfare extremely seriously and it has been desperately sad to hear of any players’ difficulties’.
England will kick off a home World Cup campaign on Saturday against Samoa in Newcastle
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