England legends Phil Vickery and Mark Regan and ex-Wales poster-boy Gavin Henson named among a group of over 200 other retired rugby stars in concussion lawsuit against World Rugby, RFU and WRU
- Phil Vickery, Mark Regan and Gavin Henson were among the many claimants
- An attorney argued that they “should have known about the long-term complications
- The RFU published 'significantly higher' financial data for the 2022-2023 year
England's World Cup-winning front-row duo Phil Vickery and Mark Regan, along with former Welsh poster boy Gavin Henson, are among a group of more than 200 ex-players involved in a concussion case.
These well-known figures, along with others such as Steve Thompson, Alix Popham, Colin Charvis and Sean Lamont, were among those named as claimants at the Royal Courts of Justice.
A case management hearing took place on Friday morning and the proceedings – in the planned Group Litigation Order against World Rugby, the RFU and the Welsh Rugby Union – were adjourned until April next year.
Because Thompson and other claimants suffered serious health problems after their careers, such as early-onset dementia, their lawyer Susan Rodway, of law firm Rylands Garth, argued in court that the defendants 'should have known about the long-term neurological complications'.
In a statement, World Rugby said: 'Legal action is preventing us from supporting the players involved, many of whom are being named publicly for the first time today. But we want them to know that we care deeply about their struggles, that we listen and that they are part of the rugby family.
Phil Vickery was part of the England squad that lifted the William Webb Ellis Trophy in Australia in 2003
His front row teammate Mark Regan was also involved in the concussion case against World Rugby, the RFU and the WRU
Former Welsh Rugby poster boy Gavin Henson was also named as a plaintiff at the Royal Courts of Justice
“The court's ruling for the second time that plaintiffs' lawyers must provide previously requested information is a positive step. The welfare of the players is the top priority in rugby.”
Meanwhile, facing the threat of costly legal action against them, the RFU published optimistic results for the 2022-2023 financial year, with 'significantly higher' revenues of £221.4 million – up from £189, 1 million the year before. .
The English governing body made an operating profit of £4 million, increased investment in rugby to £99.4 million – from £77.4 million in 2021-2022 – and revealed reserves of £123.3 million, after all Covid-related debts had been paid off.
The report outlined improved funding for Premiership clubs, but this comes after a year of turmoil when Worcester, Wasps, London Irish and Jersey Reds all went bankrupt.