Five years on, rugby players with brain damage are still waiting for the help they need. The legal battle, spanning football, rugby union, and rugby league, has been a long and winding road. The same law firm, Rylands Garth, represents all three cases, which have been making their way through the Royal Courts of Justice. Despite the complexity, the cases are distinct but parallel, with the rugby cases sharing many overlapping issues. The league case has one defendant, while the union case has three, leading to a quadruplicate argument process. This legal journey began when my colleague Michael Aylwin and I reported on the impending legal action. Soon after, former players came forward, sharing their experiences and diagnoses. Steve Thompson, Alix Popham, Michael Lipman, Dan Scarbrough, and Alex Abbey spoke to the Guardian, shedding light on their struggles. As the lawsuit progressed, more players joined, resulting in over 1,000 people involved, with 313 in the league case and 787 in the union case. These players, both professionals and amateurs, men and women, have been diagnosed with various neurodegenerative conditions, some mild, others severe. Many are counting their days, seeking a settlement for future care and support for their families. Despite the progress, the cases are far from trial, with estimates suggesting it may take until 2027 for the union case to reach trial. The legal process is slow, with proceedings often going unreported and the barristers' arguments steering the judge. The lawsuit has coincided with changes in the game, such as the introduction of smart mouthguards and stricter sanctions for dangerous tackles. However, outside the court, the landscape has shifted, while inside, the legal battles continue. The claimants, some disillusioned and others angry, feel the defendants are delaying the process. World Rugby denies this, and the legal teams seem to be engaged in a strategic game of chess, each trying to outmaneuver the other. The test cases, a cooperative approach to streamline proceedings, have not been without challenges. The dispute over medical records and the interpretation of the word 'all' has caused delays, with the claimants arguing it's an impossible burden. Rylands Garth, the law firm, has faced public scrutiny and criticism, with a case against Will Green attracting media attention. The firm's methods and the defendants' public relations strategies have been under the microscope. Despite the challenges, the claimants, including Thompson, Popham, and Lipman, continue to wait, hoping for the help they need.
