Ruby lawsuits over brain damage could be tip of huge iceberg

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A group of nine former players are suing rugby's governing bodies, but a wider group of more than 100 players say they're also showing signs of neurological complications and are also interested in pursuing legal action.

RUNDOWN SHOWS:
1. Show rugby player taking hard tackle, head hits ground hard
2. Show how player's brain moves inside the skull, blunt force trauma as it hits side of skull
3. Different tackle angle and perspective, line animation focusing on brain damage
4. Show healthy brain vs CTE-damaged brain. Different type of hit: head on head
5. Player coming down on head after feet taken out in up and under jumping catch
6. Two players hit heads in tackle sequence, show internal effect on brain

VOICEOVER (in English):
Former international rugby players are suing rugby's governing bodies after being diagnosed with degenerative brain diseases, and CNN reports that this could be the tip of a very large iceberg, as more players are reporting symptoms of dementia and memory loss.

Among players putting forward a legal case against the game's governing bodies are Steve Thompson, Michael Lipman and Alix Popham.

All three are in their early 40s and have recently been diagnosed with early onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.

CTE is a progressive, degenerative brain disease caused by repeated hits to the head.

Thompson says his memory has deteriorated to the extent that he can't remember playing for England in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final, let alone even being in Australia for the tournament.

Thompson is part of a group of nine former players suing the governing bodies, but a wider group of more than 100 players say they are showing signs of neurological complications and are also interested in pursuing legal action, according to the lawyer co-ordinating the case.

SOURCES: CNN, The Guardian, The Times

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