Gavin Hanson and a group of New Wales players sue World Rugby over brain injuries in seismic advert

Former Wales and Lions players Gavin Hanson and Colin Charvis have been named as plaintiffs in a concussion lawsuit against rugby’s governing bodies.

Following a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice on Friday morning, Rylands Heart released the names of the 212 players involved in the case they are bringing against World Rugby, Rugby Football Union and Welsh Rugby Union. Receive the latest World Cup news by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Players such as former Welsh defender Alix Popham, England hooker Steve Thompson and Welsh and Lions international Ryan Jones have already gone public, while several others have chosen to remain anonymous. As such, Rylands Garth requested anonymity, as well as a class action injunction, those class action-type legal orders normally reserved for industrial disease claims.

In addition to Henson and Charvis, the 212 players include former Scotland and Scarlet striker Sean Lamont, as well as former England internationals Phil Vickery, Mark Regan and Muritz Botha.

Other Welsh internationals include Morgan Stoddart, Dafydd James, Darren Morris, Ceri Jones, Rhys Gill, Ian Gough, Dafydd James, Andrew Coombs and Emir Lewis. You can see the full list of players, including all 34 Wales internationals, here.

In a joint statement following the case management hearing, which has been postponed until April 2024, World Rugby, the RFU and WRU said: “While today’s case management hearing was certainly about the legal process, we should not forget the people and players in your heart. of this case. The process prevents us from supporting the players involved, many of whom were publicly named today for the first time.

“But we want them to know that we care deeply about their struggles, that we hear them and that they are members of the rugby family. The court’s decision, for the second time, that the plaintiffs’ lawyers must provide the previously requested information is positive. past”.

“Player welfare is rugby’s top priority and will continue to be. “Rugby is committed to leading the sport’s wellbeing agenda, guided by the development of science and research to protect and support players at all levels.”