Leading rugby league agent named as former player involved in union concussion lawsuit

Iestyn Harris has been named as one of the former players involved in the concussion lawsuit against rugby union. Harris, a dual-code international who made 400 professional appearances in the 13-man game, is one of six former Wales internationals who have been named as part of the case following the withdrawal of an anonymity application.

Harris, who played for Great Britain as well as Warrington Wolves, Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Bulls and Featherstone Rovers, is now one of the biggest player agents in rugby league, with his clientele thought to be the largest in Super League. It was reported last year that he had set up a partnership with NRL-based agency Ultra Management, one of the leaders on the scene down under.

There is no suggestion that Harris is involved in the claim against the Rugby Football League which is being sued by the same law firm as World Rugby, Rylands Garth.

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Recently authorities have questioned the conduct of lawyers representing players across the claims after former rugby union prop Will Green claimed Rylands Garth had pressured him to commit fraud to join the action. Green obtained an independent brain scan that showed he had no signs of dementia.

In a joint statement, World Rugby, the RFU and the WRU said: “Throughout the four years this legal case has taken to date, rugby’s priority has always been the welfare of the players,” the statement read. “Whilst we cannot reach out to any of the individual players involved in legal action, what we would want them to know is that we listen, we care and we never stand still on player welfare.

“The delays in this case and conduct of the claimants’ lawyers is a great cause of concern. In the interests of the players, we urge Rylands Garth to meet all court-imposed deadlines and to present the full details of the case they are making against us. Only that way can we move this matter closer to the court hearings which will provide a resolution to this issue, which is surely in the interest of all parties.”

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