James Haskell & Jamie Cudmore launch new lobby group for player safety

James Haskell and Jamie Cudmore have recently launched Progressive Rugby – a lobby group highlighting player safety as a top priority.

The group believes that “changes need to be made as soon as possible” to rugby or it could face extinction in the near future.

The group, which currently comprises of 28 signatories, has submitted an open letter to World Rugby Chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont, wherein their concerns are stressed.

One of the signatories, Alix Popham, has said that Progressive Rugby is totally separate from the legal proceedings which will soon get underway concerning ex-players who have been diagnosed with early-onset dementia and are intent on taking action against World Rugby.

“I always had concerns rugby was very slow moving,” Haskell said. “The game needs to change things. We could do so much more to look after players. Why do we do so much contact in training when there’s no need? So much gets brushed under the carpet. 

"It’s only when it affects you and someone you know, you actually start to take notice, but paying lip service to it has to stop because we are getting these neurological effects when people are young.