RFU admit they've tried to contact Steve Thompson but are yet to receive formal legal contact
Bill Sweeney has revealed the Rugby Football Union is yet to receive any legal contact from the group of former players preparing claims for negligence against rugby’s unions.
World Cup winner Steve Thompson is among a group of players preparing lawsuits against the RFU, the Welsh Rugby Union and global governing body World Rugby.
Chief executive Sweeney insisted the RFU has not yet received any legal contact over the issue – but also conceded no one at the organisation has yet spoken to former Northampton and England hooker Thompson.
Thompson is among a group of ex-players suffering early-onset dementia symptoms in their early 40s, with the former front-rower admitting he cannot remember any of England’s matches at their victorious 2003 World Cup.
“It’s important to point out that we haven’t received any formal legal approaches yet,” said Sweeney.
“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.”
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.”
'There has been contact… We will wait and see.'
The man who helped mastermind the Boks RWC glory could be used against them #Lions2021
– reports @chrisjonespress ???https://t.co/5vzHO2G12l
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 11, 2020
Former England flanker Michael Lipman and ex-Wales back-rower Alix Popham are also among the group of ex-players preparing legal action.
Sweeney pledged that the RFU will remain “open and transparent” in reacting to the specific situation, but also in continuing their work to minimise concussions and improve player safety in rugby.
“It’s a very serious matter, a very serious moment for us; we all love this game,” said Sweeney.
“This has been a very challenging week.
“First and foremost in these legalistic times this is very much a human story.
“…I think people are being a little disingenuous if they’re not prepared to say about the huge steps we’ve already taken.”
Rob Baxter has launched a staunch defence of rugby's concussion protocols. https://t.co/Uq5ExYaybh
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 10, 2020
“And we recognise what’s happening here, we recognise the difficulties the families are going through and then bringing these stories into the public.
“We applaud them for doing that, but also in the context of their motivation which is to improve the game and make it better and safer for future generations.
“We would certainly share that and take it to heart. And it’s impossible not to be moved by it.
“It’s not a time to hide, not a time to go missing; it’s really a time to be open and transparent.
“We’ve got to make sure we’re making the necessary changes, to ensure we’ve got the safest possible game across all the different levels.
“And we do take player welfare extremely seriously, I want to reassure you of that.
“It features in every strategic document we produce.”
Sweeney conceded however that the RFU does not currently have any plan for monitoring or testing retired players when it comes to head or brain injuries.
“We don’t have any protocols for monitoring or screening players who have retired,” said Sweeney.
“It’s not to say that’s something we wouldn’t do, and if that’s something we need to consider and build in, then we’ll look at that.
“It’s important to stress that the aim to make the sport safer, and all the work that goes into that, that’s a journey that has no conclusion to it.”
Sweeney also insisted the RFU now has its finances under control, despite expecting to return at least a £30million loss for the 2020/21 financial year.
“We expect to lose about £135million worth of revenue through this financial year,” said Sweeney.
“And that on current forecasts means we’re expecting something in the region of a high £30million loss, which of course is difficult but is better than we were projecting even a month ago.
“We’re on top of the situation, having restructured the business that resulted in 119 redundancies.
“So the RFU business model is inherently still sound, but it will take a few more years to get back to being debt free.”
Comments on RugbyPass
If stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game. I’d start Jordan with his brother Jaden. Masuku and Nohamba off the bench.
2 Go to commentsGlad Tom Curry not playing needs time to recover such a great player also his brother Ben how well is he playing now .
1 Go to commentsLet’s examine what might be irking the brainless E: Up until 20 years before this coming Julys tests: 16 games: 14 wins for SA; 1 win for Ire; 1 draw From 20 years until July’ tests Ireland V SA: 13 matches Ireland won 8; SA won 4; 1 draw Points scored Ireland 261; SA 189 Ave Winning Margin: Ireland 11 points; SA 4 points (away 3, home 6) Away win record: Ireland 33.33%; SA 25% Neutral matches 1: Ireland win RWC France 2023. Last SA win June 2016 (8 years ago) They boast 3 World cups in that period (they do boast). The above record is not good, probably not much better than theirs against NZ for same period. That’s why the dopey E is starting fights in his head. He will probably ship a yellow when things don’t go their way in the first test.
127 Go to commentsGoode is like a wet fart on The Rugby Pod and should be shoved aside. Jim knows what he is on about and can get on better without Goode’s nasty little cheap shots.
127 Go to commentsBrumbies will win, crusaders are pretty awful this year
1 Go to commentsThis has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page. Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.
1 Go to commentsThe Farrells are one of the great father and son combinations. Andy was an RL great, and had he played Union as his first sport, I would be sure he would have been avery significant forcewas in League. And Owen, a Union great, who had he played League, would could have been a great there too i all probability. I feel my attitude to Owen has mellowed as he has aged, and in the post Jones era, evolved and shown his full range of talents. He really is an all round player, and I have wold hope his move to France will be successful. He may even be the piece in the jigsaw that Racing need to rise to challenge Toulouse and LAR. He is ofc now approaching 33 years of age but should still have enough left to make a big contribution in France for at least2/3 years.
45 Go to commentsI reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
2 Go to commentsHaha did he also* say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
45 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
127 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
4 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
9 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
127 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
45 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
9 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
127 Go to comments