Paralysed player wins compensation

THE Rug

Richard Vowles, 29, was injured in the final seconds of a local derby between Llanharan and Tondu in January 1998.

Now wheelchair-bound, he had brought a High Court damages action against match referee David Evans, for whom the WRU accepted vicarious liability.

Mr Justice Morland, sitting in London, said Mr Evans was in breach of his duty to take reasonable care for the safety of the front row forwards in failing to order non-contested scrums.

In his judgment, Mr Vowles had established on the balance of probabilities this breach of duty was a material cause of his accident.

It is the first time an amateur referee in any sport has been held liable in the context of an adult amateur game and the judge recommended that the unions governing the British game should insure themselves and their referees against further claims.

The RFU revealed that all their referees are insured against any claims but added a note of concern at yesterday’s verdict, a spokesman saying: “We are going to look into the case, digest it and examine it more closely. This particular case does not affect us of course, but we need to look at whether there are any wider implications which come out of this.”

The WRU, who are considering an appeal, have warned the case could open the floodgates for similar actions and change the face of amateur rugby across Wales. However, they defended their commitment to player safety.

WRU chairman Glanmore Griffiths said: “The fact that the union contested this case in no way detracts from our commitments to ensure a safe management of the game of rugby at all levels.”