I can’t think of any Insurance company wanting to insure RL players at any level in the e.leeds-live.co.uk/_act/link.php ... Id=7549699

I can’t think of any Insurance company wanting to insure RL players at any level in the e.leeds-live.co.uk/_act/link.php ... Id=7549699

This issue for me is the sport just not have that sort of money, it can't cover such a loss therefore the players will be unlikely to get the compo they are chasing.

The protocol for head knocks now are miles apart from the 90's.
John Atkinson at Leeds had dementia and he played on the wing, was that due to playing rugby?
I know Jeff Astle's dementia was blamed on him heading the ball at football, will football be flooded with compensation claims?

This isn't just League. Other sports are facing this too.

I feel for the players who have suffered but this won't get them what they want.

The crux of the case is whether someone was negligent. That's quite hard to prove mainly because no-one knew the effects of head injuries back then. That's why the protocols are in place now. Even when the player wants to play.

The question is, when did we know, and when were the protocols changed.

Also, we are in a funny position. Lawyers will probably want to target smaller sports like us as we can't defend so easily but if they win they can use it as precedent against RFU and NFL etc.
But that also probably helps us as they won't want that to happen either.

Clearly my legal knowledge is based on watching Suits and Bull but I think that makes me pretty much an expert doesn't it?

Lost mum and 4 of her sisters with dementia, brother-in-law at a young age with it also, he never played any sports. As you say will be difficult to prove.

Getting smashed every week cand be good for the brain.
However, is this the cause of dementia and if so, why doesn't every player suffer and why do so many people suffer with dementia, and they've never touched a rugby ball, football, american football etc, etc.

Having said that this issue is huge and will be driven, largely, by what happens in the States.

IF liability was proven against any sport, it could kill all contact sports or lead to players signing some kind of disclaimer.

With league and Union players going down the court route this could eventually be a stepping stone for some sort of hybrid game, other than that players will have to sign there rights away to claims.

Why on earth does this have any link to a hybrid game?

You might as well say we'll make a hybrid game with football and NFL.

I think the disclaimer is most likely. Boxing and NRL are massive money earners for people who would have nothing in the normal world. They will never stop people playing.

In your opinion.

In my opinion yes.

I’m not sure if the RFL and clubs would be liable to pay any damages. I think that would be the insurance companies, the problem would be if the insurer has to pay out, then future premiums would be so high that the sport could not afford to pay the premium. No insurance = no one playing the game. That’s how I think could well happen if the injured players are successful in their claim. Then again I’m no expert on such matters.

I can't imagine it would be that simple, to just sign a disclaimer.

People do it all the time.
If you do a bungee or a parachute jump, you sign a disclaimer to say you understand the risks.