Hundreds of former rugby players seek new legal team after solicitor steps down
Hundreds of former rugby league and rugby union players pursuing claims against the sport’s governing bodies are looking for fresh legal representation after the case’s organising solicitor asked to withdraw, a development that the lead barrister warned has left the litigation at a critical juncture. Susan Rodway KC said the claimants are "staring into the precipice" as they search for replacement lawyers and a "firm with resources and specialist expertise".
The dispute involves former players who have mounted legal action against the game’s governing bodies over brain injury issues. Richard Boardman, the solicitor who had acted as the driving force behind the litigation, has formally requested to come off the record following criticism of his handling of the matter by the managing judge, Senior Master Cook. Leigh Day, which has provided consultancy support on the matter since February, is being discussed as a possible replacement legal team. The situation was reported on 2026-07-22T19:07:46.0000000Z.
Senior Master Cook’s criticism of Boardman’s management of the proceedings prompted the formal withdrawal request, a move that alters the case’s legal configuration. Boardman’s role had been central to coordinating the claimants’ claims, and his departure from the record leaves procedural and organisational responsibilities in question. The managing judge’s remarks were significant enough to trigger the formal step of asking to be removed from the public record, according to the accounts of those involved.
Susan Rodway KC, representing the claimants, warned of the immediate consequence of losing the solicitor who had been overseeing the bringing together of many individual claims. She used the phrase "staring into the precipice" to describe the perilous position now facing the cohort of former players. Her comments underline the urgency felt by the group as they weigh options for continuing their action without the lawyer who had been co-ordinating efforts.
Separately, the players and their advisers have set out a clear requirement for any incoming team: they want a 'firm with resources and specialist expertise'. That specification reflects the scale and technical nature of the litigation, which involves numerous claimants across both codes of rugby and complex medical and legal issues. The demand for specialist capacity has shaped discussions over which firm might step into a lead role for the claimants.
Leigh Day has been involved with the litigation as consultants since February and is now under consideration to assume full responsibility for the case. Those familiar with the matter say the firm’s ongoing consultancy role makes it a candidate to take over formal representation, though a decision to do so would mark a significant change in the litigation’s leadership. The transition from consultant status to principal firm would require the new lead to adopt the organisational duties Boardman previously carried out.
The immediate task for the claimants is to secure legal counsel able to manage a large, technically demanding group action against governing bodies from which many former players seek redress. The next steps will determine whether the litigation can proceed without disruption or whether the loss of the organising solicitor will cause further procedural challenges for the cohort of claimants.
