The BBC recently aired a documentary about former professional rugby player Steve Thompson, who has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia at the age of 44.
Steve believes his diagnosis is most likely to have been caused by a brain condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which he developed after taking hundreds of blows to the head during a career which saw him win the Rugby World Cup in 2003 and receive an MBE.
In 2020 Steve was one of a group of players who launched a legal case to sue rugby’s governing bodies for negligence, claiming that concussion protocols were not sufficient to protect rugby players during his career. If successful, the case could pave the way for thousands of ex-players to file negligence cases.
Taylor Emmet’s Personal Injury Partner John Green said: “The moving testimony of Steve Thompson is a wake-up call for sports administrators who have, for too long, failed to protect players against the known risks of head injury. Sadly, it seems that Steve’s case is only the tip of the iceberg, and this issue will affect thousands of other ex-pros.
“Steve’s diagnosis of CTE is very likely to be due to the multiple head impacts he received during his career, and we hope the courts will recognise a breach of duty by the governing bodies in failing to take reasonable steps to keep players safe.”
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