Brain injury legal action faces threat of collapse

Breaking news from the world of sport: Brain injury legal action faces threat of collapseImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The legal action against rugby's authorities has been going since 2020ByMike Henson Sport rugby union news reporterPublished26 minutes agoRugby's multi-million-pound concussion legal action could be close to collapse as the game's authorities push for clarity on whether a deadline for information on the vast majority of the 1,200 cases involved has been breached. The two sets of lawyers have clashed over the collection and sharing of information related to former players since the action began in 2020. In December, a High Court judge dismissed a claim by those representing former players that compiling full medical records for each would be "impossible, onerous and costly" and insisted on full disclosure of medical records and neurological test results.

"In view of the continued failure to comply with the unless order made by the court, which required full and proper disclosure of relevant information related to the claim... the defendants have applied for a declaration that many of the claims are now struck out," read a statement from World Rugby, the Welsh Rugby Union and the Rugby Football Union. "It is disappointing that despite repeated warnings from the court, Rylands Garth have still failed to comply with the terms of the court and the defendants have been forced to take this step.

Match Details

"Ben Youngs Investigates: How Safe Is Rugby? Players must provide medical records in concussion lawsuit Published22 December 2025Rugby brain injury claims may exceed £300m Published28 March 2023Rylands Garth says it will contest any attempt to have any cases removed from its legal action and accused the game's authorities of delaying proceedings with unnecessary requests for information. "The governing bodies want access to confidential information that is covered by legal privilege – they are not medical records," said a spokesperson.

"For years, rugby authorities have tried to delay this case, not caring about the distress this is causing to those who have already suffered because of their failures. "The defendants are fully aware that many of these documents are privileged and confidential. "They also know the scale of the task the claimants and the legal team have undertaken for full disclosure.

"The defendants have all the information they need and more – they are resorting to these tactics to delay the claimants their route to justice. "The players involved – across league and union – claim that rugby's authorities failed to put in place safeguards to protect them from neurological conditions caused by repeated head impacts. World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union (RFU), the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), the Rugby Football League (RFL) deny liability.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.