A significant concussion lawsuit involving more than 1,000 former rugby players has been thrown into disarray as the claimants' lawyer, Richard Boardman, has informed a London court of his intention to step away from the proceedings. The case, launched in 2020, alleges that neurodegenerative illnesses suffered by the former athletes were caused by their careers in rugby union and rugby league.
If Boardman's withdrawal is finalized, the landmark case could face dismissal. World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union, and the Welsh Rugby Union are the defendants in the rugby union portion of the lawsuit, while the Rugby Football League is the defendant for rugby league.
Boardman, through his firm Rylands Garth, has represented the claimants since the action began. However, the process has reportedly seen little progress, with Boardman facing criticism for a perceived lack of documentary evidence. Sources indicate that a committee of former players involved in the case recently voted to seek new legal representation.
Boardman has stated he will remain on record for the foreseeable future while the process of transferring his responsibilities unfolds. Leigh Day, a firm that previously represented gymnasts in a lawsuit against British Gymnastics, is currently conducting due diligence to assess its ability to take over the case, pending client agreement. Boardman emphasized his commitment to an orderly handover to ensure the court's confidence in the litigation's future conduct.
The court document highlighted that this change of solicitor reflects the claimants' seriousness regarding the criticisms and signals a new approach to the litigation. The ultimate outcome for the former players, including World Cup winners Steve Thompson and Phil Vickery, remains unclear, with no definitive resolution in sight more than five years after the case was initiated.