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'There is no scientific proof of the causal link between concussion and CTE, that is not a proven thing'
Bill Sweeney has no fears that concussion lawsuits could cripple the Rugby Football Union.
Chief executive Sweeney has refused on four occasions to confirm whether the RFU has any insurance policy against legal action taken on claims surrounding head trauma and dementia.
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The RFU has yet to receive any legal contact from the group of former players preparing claims for negligence against the RFU, the Welsh Rugby Union and global governing body World Rugby.
Settlements over head trauma in American football could cost the National Football League in excess of 1billion US dollars and though Sweeney has no fears for rugby to suffer similar sizes of claims, he would not be drawn on the RFU’s insurance provision.
Asked if he has any concerns NFL-style settlements could bankrupt the RFU, Sweeney replied: “No, no, I’m not concerned about that.
“I’ve got no reason to believe we wouldn’t be covered but we’re not going into that detailed discussion at this stage, until we see the nature of what is being submitted.”
Asked repeatedly to provide clarity on the RFU’s insurance provision, Sweeney would only reiterate: “I’ve got no reason to believe we would not be covered for this.
“I’ll just stick to what I said. I’ve no reason to believe we’re not covered for this.
“It’s hypothetical at this stage because we don’t know what this is yet.
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“It’s important to point out that we haven’t received any formal legal approaches yet.
“So all we’re knowledgeable at is what we’re reading currently in the media.
“We don’t have any specific case or specific conditions laid out, so it’s a bit premature really and hypothetical to speculate on what’s going there.
“And we haven’t got into any detailed discussions on insurance or cover because we don’t know the nature of what’s been presented yet.”
World Cup winner Steve Thompson is among a group of former players suffering early-onset dementia symptoms in their early 40s preparing law suits against rugby’s top governing bodies.
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Thompson has admitted he cannot remember any of England’s matches at their victorious 2003 World Cup.
"Rugby is a contact sport and we all know that comes with risks."
– @AndyGoode10 ??? played with Steve Thompson and Alex Popham, but questions 'whether litigation is the right route to go down' #concussion https://t.co/Xv6ZyB4XIS
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 12, 2020
Asked if the RFU has contacted Thompson this week, Sweeney said: “We have tried to contact him this week, unfortunately we had the wrong number for him to begin with, which didn’t help.
“We only found that out after 24 hours. But we have tried to contact him, unfortunately we haven’t been able to make contact yet.
“That’s just to have a chat and see how he’s doing, but we haven’t made contact yet.”
Former England flanker Michael Lipman and ex-Wales back-rower Alix Popham are also among the group of ex-players preparing legal action.
“The physical nature of rugby is a huge part of its appeal but we have definitely gone so far down that path that ‘physicality’ has overpowered the game.”https://t.co/NswBYCqxhm
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 12, 2020
The NFL settlements centred around links between concussion and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), but Sweeney insists there remains no concrete proof that head trauma can directly cause the condition.
“There is no scientific proof of the causal link between concussion and CTE, that is not a proven thing, and research is ongoing into that,” said Sweeney.
“There are differences between American football and rugby union, and as you say the measures that have been put in place have been in place for quite some time now are held up as being best in class when it comes to concussion identification, monitoring and management. But we can never do enough in this field.”
Although admitting fears for the sport’s reputation, Sweeney insisted rugby remains a safe sport.
“Of course we’re worried about reputational risk, we love this game,” said Sweeney.
“That’s why we need to be really open and transparent and make sure this becomes really fact-based in terms of what we’re talking about, on what really are the risks and the benefits of playing rugby.
“It would be disingenuous to say we’re not worried about the reputational risk, but we believe it’s manageable.
“Our evidence shows that rugby as a team sport for youth is no more dangerous than other sports.
“But this is the time for transparency, get all the facts out there, and a situation like this, the more facts out there, the better.
“We believe that everything is being done and will continue to be done to make sure that rugby is a safe sport for kids to take up.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
75 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to comments