Nearly two-thirds of players in lawsuit 'show CTE symptoms'

Almost two-thirds of the claimants in a concussion lawsuit against rugby league authorities showed symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, according to documents seen by the BBC.

The degenerative brain disease is linked to repeated blows to the head and can only be diagnosed definitively after death.

But as part of the litigation, medical assessments have been conducted on 168 former players by a team of neuro-specialists appointed by the claimants' lawyers.

The documents indicate 108 of them (64%) showed signs of CTE, which causes an increased risk of mental illness and has been linked to dementia, while 60 have been diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome.

These are two of seven different neurological conditions diagnosed among the claimants, including Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

As part of the case, the assessments have been formally submitted to the defendants - the Rugby Football League (RFL) and the British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA).

The former players claim the governing bodies were negligent in failing to take reasonable action to protect them from serious brain injuries, and should have established and implemented rules on the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of actual or suspected concussive injuries.

In an unprecedented insight into the details of the class action lawsuit, BBC Sport can reveal the documents also show:

The case is attached to a separate lawsuit involving hundreds of former rugby union players.

In February at the High Court, a potential roadmap was set out for the landmark litigation, with 21 claimants from each of the two groups likely be chosen to come to trial on behalf of the entire group.

The law firm is also awaiting the outcome of a Solicitors Regulation Authority investigation after a former England player alleged he was pressurised into joining its group claim.

Former prop Will Green said he was pressured to sign up to the litigation even after a second scan, arranged independently of the legal action, found no signs of brain damage.

A spokesperson for Rylands Garth, the law firm representing the claimants, said: "These statistics show the severity of the problems our claimants are going through - and, of course, there will be far more former players suffering like this outside of the case.

"Some of the stories we have heard are truly heartbreaking and their experiences must not be downplayed.

"Diagnoses such as MND, probable CTE, Parkinson's and dementia are incredibly serious and we believe this is a problem on an industrial scale."

In a statement, the RFL and BARLA said they "take player safety and welfare extremely seriously, and it has been desperately sad to hear of any players' difficulties".

They added: "Rugby league is a contact sport and, while there is an element of risk to playing any sport, player welfare is always of paramount importance.

"As a result of scientific knowledge, the sport of rugby league continues to improve and develop its approach to concussion, head injury assessment, education, management and prevention across the whole game.

"We will continue to use medical evidence and research to reinforce and enhance our approach. Support to former professional players is always available from rugby league's charity partner RL Cares."

One of the claimants in the rugby league case is Roy Heaney, 64, who played for Wigan and Salford in the 1980s having initially played football for Liverpool reserves and Bolton Wanderers. He has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia and probable CTE.

He told BBC Sport he sustained regular concussions during his careers in both football and rugby league.

"There's no way your brain can sustain that sort of damage," he said.

"I've had issues for about 25 years that have affected me - my personality, my quality of life has suffered, I've lost jobs because of my issues with brain damage, relationships have failed, it's affected all parts of my life.

"I never dreamed for one minute that from my mid-30s onwards I would struggle with issues of my brain. None of us signed up for that.

"I was seeing things, I was hearing things. I had awful thoughts, really dark moments where I thought 'why am I here? I'm a burden on my family'. I'd lost my career, wasn't working and was living on benefits.

"I had to retire and then became very insular and withdrew. My short-term memory became non-existent."

Heaney claims the care he received while training and playing matches during his rugby league career was insufficient.

"We'd be given smelling salts, sponge on the neck, back out and play," he said.

"After the weekend you'd come in feeling sick, dizzy, headaches. The treatment you'd receive would be a couple of paracetamol, and a hot bath. That's not care."

In a statement, Wigan Warriors said: "We are sorry to hear of the health difficulties of one of our former players. After a career in professional soccer, Roy played nine games for Wigan Rugby League in the years 1980/81 and we want to let him and his family know that he is in our thoughts at this difficult time."

Salford were approached for comment.

CTE is the disease discovered by Dr Bennet Omalu in American football player Mike Webster, and the subject of the film Concussion starring Will Smith.

In 2011, a group of former American footballers started a class action claim against the NFL and won a settlement worth about $1bn (£700m).

CTE can develop when the brain is subjected to numerous small blows or rapid movements - sometimes known as sub-concussions - and is associated with symptoms such as memory loss, depression and progressive dementia.

It has been found in the brains of dozens of former NFL players, as well as a handful of deceased footballers, including former West Bromwich Albion and England striker Jeff Astle. A re-examination of his brain in 2014 found he had died from CTE.