- Bill Sweeney says removing risk is ‘journey with no conclusion’
- Chief executive says any payouts would be covered by insurance
English rugby union’s top official says the sport is safe to play and that the future of the Rugby Football Union is not at risk from possible multi-million compensation claims made by brain damaged former players. Bill Sweeney, the RFU’s chief executive, does say, however, that the union are wary of the potential impact on the game’s image and that making rugby entirely risk-free is “a journey with no conclusion”.
Like everyone else the RFU has been “very sad and distressed” to learn that the 2003 World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson is among a number of players showing signs of early onset dementia in their early 40s. As yet, however, Twickenham is still awaiting precise details of the proposed legal proceedings and Sweeney believes his organisation would be insured in the event of any huge future payout.
