'Every position affected' says concussion claim data

72 of the claimants have either been diagnosed with dementia, Parkinson's and Motor Neurone Disease, or shown signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy

A total of 40% of a group of claimants in a concussion lawsuit against rugby union authorities played in the back row, according to new data seen by the BBC.

In a fresh insight into some of the details of the landmark class action lawsuit, it shows which positions are represented by 176 former players who were either full or youth internationals.

There were 70 who played as either a flanker or number eight.

And 43 more played in the front row, as either prop or hooker, representing 24% of the group.

In all, almost 70% of the claimants played in the pack, although there are also 25 former centres, and every position is represented in the breakdown.

More than 40% of the group showed symptoms of neurodegenerative brain disease, according to the data.

It indicates that 72 of them have either been diagnosed with dementia, Parkinson's and Motor Neurone Disease, or shown signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

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

Almost a third of that group of 72 previously played in the back row, while 19 more were in the front row, and eight others were ex-centres.

Two women are also among the full internationals to have shown symptoms of CTE.

As part of the litigation, medical assessments have been conducted on the international players by a team of neuro-specialists appointed by the claimants' lawyers.

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.

'It doesn't matter what position you play'

One of the claimants, former Wales international Alix Popham, who played as a back-row forward during a 14-year professional career and was diagnosed with early onset dementia at the age of 40, said: "The stats show that every position on the pitch is taking damage.

"The majority from my generation was done in training and this was because there were no real positions in contact situations, it was just a free for all... it was relentless.

"I think it would be nice to have more research about positions, but as the data is showing, it doesn't matter what position you play, the damage is showing on the scans and with the symptoms of the players struggling, and that's one to 15."

"The British and Irish Lions will soon be flying to Australia for a very intense tour. This is where the season needs to be put into a global calendar. A six-month season would be the perfect scenario - like in American football's NFL - but any reduction on the 11 months that is currently being played is positive."

Defendants 'saddened' to hear of struggles

Meanwhile, the defendants in the case - World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union - issued a joint statement to the BBC, saying: "We are saddened to hear about any former player who is struggling in any way.

"Whilst ongoing legal action prevents us from engaging with the players concerned in this story, we would want them to know that we listen, we care and we never stand still on player welfare.

"Rugby continues to introduce measures at all levels of the game to ensure that it is as safe as possible, including smart mouthguards in the elite game and trials of a lower tackle height in community rugby."

There are now thought to be more than 380 claimants from rugby union. The case is attached to a separate lawsuit, involving around 170 former rugby league players.

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

Richard Boardman of Rylands Garth, the law firm representing the claimants, said: "The rugby cases are - finally - moving ahead at speed now, with two more hearings due by the end of the year.

"As the figures show, these former international players are struggling dreadfully with brain injuries because the rugby governing bodies failed to warn them about the dangers of playing a collision sport. It's incredibly sad to see, which is why they should not suffer any further delays to justice."

Rylands Garth is 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.

At the time Rylands Garth said that "the letter of engagement Mr Green had entered into was very clear".