Rugby at a ‘fork in the road’ over how it deals with devastating effects of concussion

Could a legal action by former players finally force the sport of rugby to admit that it has a head injury problem?

England’s Steve Thompson in action against France at the 2011 Rugby World Cup quarter final in New Zealand in 2011. Picture: INPHO/Andrew Cornagas

Would you do it all again? For most retired rugby players the answer would be an unhesitating yes: A chance to play, to win, to compete, to share once more in the camaraderie.

Not for Steve Thompson, the front-row forward who won a world cup with England, a European Cup with Northampton, and went on tour with the Lions.

Last week, Thompson revealed he was suffering from early-onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy, likely ...