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NZPA
The All Blacks support Neemia Tialata in action for the Hurricanes v the Blues in 2011.
Former All Blacks leader Neemia Tialata has joined the negligence legal action against authorities for brain injuries sustained while playing rugby.
The 43-time All Black and a member of the 2007 World Cup team has given a written guarantee that he will join the legal action, Wellington attorney Tim Castle told Stuff.
Tialata, now 38, was the victim of a hit in 2007 when playing for Wellington against Hawke’s Bay. The attacker was not expelled at the time, but Tialata only recovered when he found himself sitting on the substitute bench.
Now he has headaches and mood swings and other problems associated with that punch and all the other concussions that he suffered over the course of a long career that also affected Bayonne, Toulouse and Narbonne.
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Tialata has vowed to be part of the claim, not for her own sake, but to encourage others to come forward and to support current and future players, Castle said.
Tialata said: “I have decided to join the call of my fellow players to encourage others to come forward and give them the support they need.
“My Samoan heritage is important to me and I feel that doing this is something my father would wish for me if he was still alive. I offer myself to help the community so that the players of the future do not suffer some of the things that my generation is suffering now. I hope and pray that others feel able to join me in this action. Together we are strong.”
Robert Cianflone / Getty Images
The rebels’ Michael Lipman has also taken legal action.
Tialata and Castle will be part of a strong New Zealand front row, perhaps with the help of Carl Hayman, for action. Castle, a Wellington attorney and international sports attorney, has acted as a trusted agent and manager for many Maori and Pasifika players.
Castle said: “I would love for New Zealand Rugby to come out and support the players. We are seeing too many players in a generation suffering tragic damage at a young age. We have to usher in a new whakaaro.
“Now is the time for collaboration. I ask administrators from around the world to join. I ask that you acknowledge the problems of the past, solve them today, and protect the players for the future. I call on decision makers to do the right thing for these young people. “
Michael Bradley
England hooker Steve Thompson in action during the RWC match between England and Scotland. His memory has been destroyed by blows to the head.
England hooker Steve Thompson, who can’t pull off England’s 2003 World Cup triumph that he helped secure, is part of an eight-person ‘test group’ for potentially much bigger action.
Former England and Melbourne Rebel loose forward Michael Lipman and Wales loose Alix Popham are also part of the action.
It has addressed World Rugby, Rugby Football Union and Welsh Rugby Union, for “failing to protect (plaintiffs) from the risks caused by concussions.”
Any action by an All Black would likely be against World Rugby and New Zealand Rugby.
Richard Boardman of the London firm Rylands Law represents more than 100 players, many of whom show symptoms of neurological problems.
“The vast majority of the ex-players we represent love the game and don’t want to see it hurt in any way,” Boardman said.
