Personal injury claim news
23/11/2007

Phil Greening to pay out damages

The future of rugby has been cast into shadow following a French court's decision to award personal injury compensation to a former international player injured during a match.

Aurelien Rougerie suffered a throat injury when handed-off by Wasps player Phil Greening in 2002, causing him to later require three separate operations to deal with the damage suffered.

Rougerie, who was playing for Clermont-Ferrand at the time of the incident, felt that former England star Greening had hurt him intentionally and so decided to pursue a compensation claim through the civil courts.

Greening has always insisted the injury was caused accidentally and that he had no intention of hurting the opposing player, but the Frenchman refused to accept this and employed a personal injury solicitor to try and win compensation.

The injury claim has now proved successful and Greening has been ordered to pay Rougerie £29,000 in damages.

Rugby experts have slammed the decision as a dark day for the sport and Damian Hopley, chief executive of the Professional Rugby Players' Association, told the Daily Mail: "This is very shocking for the game.

"It sets a very dangerous precedent in a full contact sport. Because of that there is bound to be widespread concern at this ruling.

"Having seen a video of the incident, it was a very straightforward case of a hand-off."

Aurelien Rougerie's personal injury solicitor also commented on the outcome of the case saying: "The court has given a very strong sign. As far as I am aware this is a first for this type of affair."