A group of former international rugby league players have announced they intend to launch legal action against the Rugby Football League for failing to prevent concussions and the relative after-effects.
The ex-players claim many of them are now suffering from concussions sustained during their football careers.
Former Great Britain halfback Bobbie Goulding is one of the players, revealing he has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia at the age of 49.
“For something like this to come out of the blue and hit me like a bus is hard to take,” Goulding said.
“I didn’t think about dementia at all, I just thought it was the way life was. When I played I was 13 stone and five foot six (inches) playing against blokes who were six foot two and 19 stone, and didn’t even bother about it.
“But it takes its toll in the end. I played within days of serious knockouts on at least three occasions.”
Jason Roach is another former player involved in the class action.
“I forget where I’ve parked my car and have to check I’ve locked the doors a hundred times to make sur,” Roach explained of his symptoms.
“Sometimes I’ll be making coffee and realise I’ve put two spoons in the cup. Why would I do that? These aren’t major things, but they make me feel anxious about the future.
“I’ve got a 10-month-old daughter and need to look after her.”
The group consists of 10 former players, although lawyers representing the group claim they know of at least 50 who are suffering from concussion effects. Some of the players are said to be still in their 20s.
Richard Boardman of Rylands Legal – who is organising a separate lawsuit representing 175 former rugby players – has agreed to help the former rugby league professionals.
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