I sympathise with his diagnosis, agree it's a horrendous disease, but bringing a legal case, not a chanceCan’t even remember winning the Rugby World Cup
Tragic disease
Is joining a legal case against the sport. Easy to understand why
We are talking about the law, not emotion . If they prove that the scum is dangerous, not that difficult with 16 X 20 stone fit sportsmen head to head, I think it's a guilty verdict.I sympathise with his diagnosis, agree it's a horrendous disease, but bringing a legal case, not a chance
Having played the game myself (not to his standards obviously) it's always attracted a large percentage of "hard men" - I may even have fancied myself in that bracket at one point - and the game itself has always been about the physical side, - not backing down, showing no weakness, and being as hard as you coud be, and Thompson was one of the ones who really reveled in that, and got him to the standard he reached.
To then take the RFU to court claiming they knew this could potentially cause long term damage, that the players didn't know that, and that they should have been warned and/or legislated against it, is frankly ridiculous .... and I can tell you, a warning would have been laughed off and completely ignored
No, we're talking about the players claiming that at the time they didn't know that the physical nature of the game could potentially cause issues in the long term, but that the RFU did but didn't notify them, which is frankly a ridiculous position to takeWe are talking about the law, not emotion . If they prove that the scum is dangerous, not that difficult with 16 X 20 stone fit sportsmen head to head, I think it's a guilty verdict.
No, he's claiming that the team of fitness and medical experts around the England team & the professional clubs knew of the risks and didn't take steps to mitigate the risks for the players.No, we're talking about the players claiming that at the time they didn't know that the physical nature of the game could potentially cause issues in the long term, but that the RFU did but didn't notify them, which is frankly a ridiculous position to take
Which is the same as I posted, other than swapping "fitness and medical experts" for "RFU" .... and is still a frankly ridiculous position to take. Are you trying to tell me that the players didn't know of those risks ? .... of course they did, even at the level I played atNo, he's claiming that the team of fitness and medical experts around the England team & the professional clubs knew of the risks and didn't take steps to mitigate the risks for the players.
As others have said, it's based on a duty of care argument. It's similar to and prompted by the recent successful NFL class action. It wouldn't have got this far without a reasonable chance of success. The courts will decide on the merits of the case but I very much doubt they will dismiss it as 'ridiculous'.Which is the same as I posted, other than swapping "fitness and medical experts" for "RFU" .... and is still a frankly ridiculous position to take. Are you trying to tell me that the players didn't know of those risks ? .... of course they did, even at the level I played at
No, we're talking about the players claiming that at the time they didn't know that the physical nature of the game could potentially cause issues in the long term, but that the RFU did but didn't notify them, which is frankly a ridiculous position to take
Will this lead to people who play sport having to sign disclaimers or take our insurance to mitigate the risks involved.
Its well established that injury can often lead to early onset arthritis. Head injuries are likely to impact the brain. Both of which are common place in a lot of sports.
How much of a sport do you lose by modifying to mitigate the risks? Take out tackles/ take out the scrum? Reduce impact? Stop heading in football?
Whatever the merits of the case it is worth A challenge/
People take up sports at young ages when they are invincible then, for the select few, it becomes a way of life and brings financial security.
At that stage both players and the medics are conflicted.
Fine to say players and medics understand the risks but, if a number of players have suffered so much that it has caused this disease then that is worth knowing.
Then, steps can be put in place to prevent further people having to suffer.
I’m sorry but I think this misses the mark quite considerably. The governing body is there to protect the players and create rules that protect themI sympathise with his diagnosis, agree it's a horrendous disease, but bringing a legal case, not a chance
Having played the game myself (not to his standards obviously) it's always attracted a large percentage of "hard men" - I may even have fancied myself in that bracket at one point - and the game itself has always been about the physical side, - not backing down, showing no weakness, and being as hard as you coud be, and Thompson was one of the ones who really reveled in that, and got him to the standard he reached.
To then take the RFU to court claiming they knew this could potentially cause long term damage, that the players didn't know that, and that they should have been warned and/or legislated against it, is frankly ridiculous .... and I can tell you, a warning would have been laughed off and completely ignored
It's not just the elite that become the victims of the sport. There's fellas out there doing this without medical supervision. Can you imagine the total number that will be going through this.
The boxing fraternity will be the same.
Employers have a duty to mitigate risk, do you think a scrum of 16 enormous bloke pushing against each other without any protection is satisfactory?Which is the same as I posted, other than swapping "fitness and medical experts" for "RFU" .... and is still a frankly ridiculous position to take. Are you trying to tell me that the players didn't know of those risks ? .... of course they did, even at the level I played at
I've played every position at some time or other except prop, second row and No 8. Fly half was where I got my most injuries! Mainly tackling rather than being tackled.
I worry about some players that seem to be regularly concussed. Fly halves and full backs seem to be the hardest hit