The dispute is not only about legal issues but also about the human impact behind every case. Many of the claimants continue to live with permanent neurological conditions while waiting for the courts to determine whether rugby’s governing organizations took sufficient measures to protect their health. In this context, the need to reorganize the legal team adds further uncertainty to proceedings that have already been delayed for years, leaving hundreds of former athletes and their families in limbo.

The change in legal representation aims to secure the future of the litigation

The situation took a decisive turn after Richard Boardman, who has led the case since its inception, formally requested to be removed from the court record following criticism from the presiding judge, Cook, over the handling of the proceedings. At the same time, the claimants announced the termination of their agreement with the law firm Rylands Garth and confirmed that the process of appointing new legal representatives had begun, with the goal of bringing in a firm with greater resources and specialized expertise to handle such a complex case.

In a statement released by the players, the claimants thanked Boardman and his team for their work but explained that the litigation had reached a stage requiring a different structure to address the procedural challenges ahead. Among the firms under consideration is Leigh Day, which has been working as a consultant on the case since February and is currently assessing whether it is in a position to formally take over the litigation, subject to the clients’ approval and the completion of its due diligence process.

Procedural delays put at risk the claims of hundreds of former players

The main issue currently affecting the case concerns compliance with court orders requiring the disclosure of medical records. Judge Cook described the situation as a “drastic change,” while the claimants face the possibility that their lawsuits could be dismissed because Rylands Garth allegedly failed to provide all the medical records requested by the court. If that were to happen, hundreds of former players could be excluded from the proceedings before the cases even reach trial, despite the litigation still being in its preliminary stages.

The seriousness of the situation was highlighted by barrister Susan Rodway KC, who warned that those involved are living under enormous emotional pressure as they await decisions on the future of their claims. She told the court that many of the claimants have suffered life-changing brain injuries, resulting in permanent health problems, anxiety, and significant psychological distress. She also stated that some former players have taken their own lives during these years of uncertainty, emphasizing that these are not minor legal disputes but claims involving catastrophic neurological injuries that could result in compensation worth hundreds of thousands—or even millions—of pounds for each claimant.

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The significance of the event lay in positioning protection in sport as a matter of governance, integrity and institutional responsibility, beyond the formal existence of policies or internal codes. The conference was led by Safe Sport International -SSI-, UCT, Sport for Social Change Network Africa -SSCN- and the African Union Sports Council -AUSC-, with support and participation linked to the International Olympic Committee -IOC-, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association -FIFA-, World Rugby, World Athletics, UNESCO South Africa, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee and other bodies connected to integrity and protection in sport.

Safe sport, from intention to implementation

The first major focus of the event was turning safe sport into real systems for prevention, detection, reporting and response. Neal Anderson, CEO of Safe Sport International, summarised that idea by arguing that “safe sport does not happen by accident” and is not created by good intentions alone, but “must be chosen, built, resourced and sustained”. In his remarks, he linked that responsibility to clear values, accountable leadership, trusted systems and safety cultures lived every day inside sports organisations.

The first day, dedicated to knowledge mobilisation, focused on research, data, athlete rights, the design of safeguarding systems and youth participation. Sessions also addressed the relationship between protection and inclusion, mental health in and through sport, trauma-informed practice, the wellbeing of athletes and support teams, child protection and the need for policies to be built on evidence and on the experience of those who have lived through situations of abuse, vulnerability or harm within the sports system.

Research, mental health and survivors

The second day placed African leadership and continental innovation at the centre of the debate. Under that theme, the conference addressed responses adapted to the African context, gender-based violence, mental health, the creation of protection networks, human trafficking through sport, safeguarding in sports academies and the protection of children in low-resource or crisis settings. Specific issues were also discussed, including the inclusion of women and girls with albinism in African sport and strategies to end child sexual violence through research, survivor-led initiatives and practical safeguarding interventions.

Mosa Moshabela, UCT vice-chancellor, argued that sport can transform lives and open professional opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, but only if those spaces are free from injury, abuse, harassment, exploitation and harm. David Maralack, associate professor and head of UCT’s School of Management Studies, linked the conference to the need to address the limited presence of Africa and the Global South in safe sport research, an absence which, he explained, has real consequences for athletes, officials, federations and communities facing these problems without enough evidence-based guidance.

Africa and international federations

The final day, focused on global vision and solutions, addressed accountability, international standards, institutional readiness and the need for protection mechanisms to work in the daily practice of clubs, federations, competitions, academies and international organisations. Anderson warned that sport can become a place of deep harm when power is abused, dependency is exploited, boundaries are crossed or success is placed above people. “Violence, harassment and abuse in or through sport are never acceptable. Safe sport is the only sport that matters,” he said.

FIFA appeared as one of the relevant actors in that conversation. Kathryn Leslie, Senior Safeguarding Manager at the organisation, recognised the work of safeguarding officers operating with limited resources in different countries and argued that the international federation listens to its member associations in order to improve its systems. The conference also addressed age fraud as an issue affecting both protection and integrity, with calls for responsibility not to fall only on athletes, but also on officials and coaches who may facilitate such practices.

Work still to do

World Rugby and Rugby Africa used the conference as part of a broader process to build a continental safeguarding network. The event came after Rugby Africa adopted a continental safeguarding policy and procedures in February 2026 to prevent and respond to abuse, harassment, neglect and exploitation. Coralie van den Berg, Regional Partnership Manager for Africa at World Rugby, stressed that “the adoption of a safeguarding policy was a critical step, but policies alone do not protect people; people do”.

World Athletics also presented its experience after introducing a safeguarding policy in 2023 requiring its member federations to take responsibility in this area. Catherine Pitre, Senior Counsel at the international federation, said more work was still needed to ensure that no complaint is left without a clear route for action. “We still have a lot of work to do in terms of policy adoption and procedures to ensure that no complaint is left without a pathway to move forward and be addressed,” she said.

The conference concluded with the collective adoption of a Safe Sport Principles Pledge, aimed at strengthening accountability and safeguarding practices worldwide. In parallel, Rugby Africa plans to train and certify 25 safeguarding focal points from its member federations and move towards the adoption of protection policies in at least 50% of participating federations in the 12 months following the event.

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In this context, World Athletics and World Rugby joined forces during the Global Safe Sport Conference, held from May 25 to 27 at the University of Cape Town. The event brought together more than 400 delegates involved in child protection and sports integrity, creating a collaborative platform where experts, researchers, policymakers, and sports leaders discussed current challenges and the actions needed to strengthen athlete protection worldwide.

International Collaboration as a Tool to Strengthen Safe Sport

Organized by Safe Sport International, the conference was designed to examine how safeguarding commitments can be translated into concrete actions within sports organizations. Over three days, participants explored topics related to emerging research, institutional leadership, safeguarding policy development, and cooperation among different stakeholders within the sports ecosystem. The program featured workshops, keynote presentations, research sessions, and working groups aimed at sharing knowledge and practical experiences.

The joint participation of World Athletics and World Rugby helped strengthen African representation at the event. Both international federations supported delegates from their member organizations across the continent, facilitating the creation of professional networks and shared learning opportunities. This collaboration sought not only to exchange best practices but also to strengthen local capacities so that safeguarding advances can be effectively implemented at national and regional levels.

Listening to Athletes and Building Stronger Protection Systems

Among the World Athletics representatives were members of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), who took part in several specialized sessions focused on case management, the development of continental safeguarding networks, and the relationship between sports integrity and child protection. These discussions allowed participants to delve deeper into people-centered approaches, particularly those that consider the emotional and psychological impact of situations affecting athletes.

At the same time, fifteen safeguarding officers from African athletics federations participated in meetings aimed at strengthening regional cooperation. The exchange of experiences highlighted common challenges as well as significant progress in implementing safeguarding measures. Among the key messages emerging from the conference was the recognition that safeguarding is a shared responsibility, the need for greater international harmonization of standards, and the importance of ensuring that athletes’ voices remain at the center of efforts to build safe and respectful sporting environments.

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That is what separates football from almost every other sport. The comparison is not straightforward, because each event reports its business differently: FIFA works in four-year cycles, the International Olympic Committee -IOC- reports by Olympiad, Formula 1 operates as an annual global circuit, the Super Bowl is a one-night media event, and sports such as cricket, rugby and basketball often separate federation revenue from economic impact. But the available figures point in the same direction: other sports can monetise a final, a season, a circuit or a regional market. Football can monetise the world through one tournament.

The Olympics are the only real comparison

The Olympic Games remain the closest point of comparison in terms of institutional and financial scale. The IOC’s 2021-2024 cycle generated 12.070 billion dollars in revenue when deferred Tokyo 2020 television rights are included, or 8.963 billion dollars without that accounting effect, according to figures compiled from its annual report. The IOC also distributed major sums across the Olympic system, including 1.991 billion dollars in cash and services to Paris 2024, 970 million dollars to Beijing 2022, 590.1 million dollars to summer international federations, 201 million dollars to winter international federations and 590.1 million dollars through Olympic Solidarity.

The difference is the product being sold. The Olympics monetise a movement: many sports, many federations, a broad institutional identity and a global brand built around the Games. The World Cup monetises one sport, one ball, one trophy and one simple narrative: countries against countries. That simplicity matters commercially. It allows FIFA to sell the same event simultaneously as television inventory, national identity, tourism, sponsorship, hospitality, licensing, digital content and urban consumption. The IOC has greater symbolic and institutional breadth, but football concentrates its commercial force in a single product.

The Super Bowl sells one night; football sells a month

The Super Bowl is the most powerful single-night advertising property in sport. Nielsen estimated that Super Bowl LX drew 125.6 million viewers in the United States, making it the second most-watched Super Bowl ever, while advertisers paid up to 10 million dollars for 30-second commercial slots. Those numbers show the extraordinary power of the NFL in the American media market, but they also show its limit: the Super Bowl is a spectacular domestic media event with global visibility, not a month-long multi-market competition built around national teams.

Formula 1 offers another kind of comparison. Its commercial model is highly sophisticated: in 2025, F1 revenue rose to 3.87 billion dollars, with primary revenue driven by media rights, race promotion, sponsorship and other premium categories such as hospitality and licensing. That makes F1 one of the strongest global sports properties in terms of luxury positioning, city-based events and corporate experiences. But it is a circuit, not a World Cup. It monetises continuity, prestige, paddock access and a premium travelling calendar; football monetises identity, scarcity and a global tournament that turns entire countries into consumers.

Cricket, basketball and rugby show the gap

Cricket has one of the few global structures capable of approaching football in audience scale, especially through India and South Asia, but its financial geography is more concentrated. The International Cricket Council -ICC- reported 756.3 million dollars in total revenue and other income for 2025, including 706.1 million dollars from events revenue. The figure is significant, and cricket’s event model is powerful, but it remains far from FIFA’s 13 billion-dollar cycle and from the World Cup’s ability to activate dozens of national markets with comparable commercial intensity.

Basketball shows the opposite pattern. The sport is global, but its biggest business is not the FIBA Basketball World Cup. FIBA’s 2024 accounts show total revenue of 110.7 million Swiss francs, down from 138.5 million in 2023, a year marked by the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. Commercial revenue, mainly from media and sponsorship rights, fell from 68.9 million Swiss francs in 2023 to 47.2 million in 2024. By contrast, the NBA generated around 11.3 billion dollars in team revenue in the 2023-2024 season and agreed reported 11-year media deals worth 76 billion dollars. Basketball is a huge business, but it monetises primarily through its league, franchises and stars, not through its World Cup.

Football turns countries into commercial markets

Rugby is perhaps the closest sport structurally, because its World Cup also sells national teams, travelling supporters, host cities and a concentrated tournament. The Rugby World Cup 2023 in France sold more than 2.4 million tickets, filled stadiums to 96%, reached almost 230 million television viewers across 48 matches and generated 1.8 billion euros in total spending, with a net economic impact of 871 million euros for the French economy. Yet the same event also exposed the difference between impact and monetisation: the hospitality vehicle linked to the tournament posted heavy losses, while the financial legacy available for French rugby was far smaller than expected.

That is why the 2026 World Cup matters beyond football. It will test the ceiling of a sports event that already combines part of the Olympic Games’ global reach, the Super Bowl’s advertising logic, Formula 1’s hospitality culture, cricket’s mass-market potential, basketball’s star economy and rugby’s national-team structure. Other sports can dominate markets, seasons or formats. Football is the only one that can take a single World Cup, expand it to 48 teams and 104 matches, place it inside the most monetised sports market in the world, and turn it into a commercial machine built around television, sponsors, tickets, hospitality, cities, governments and national identity.

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The news has sparked reactions among supporters around the world, especially those who dream of witnessing live the moment when the next world champion is crowned. While the most affordable ticket will cost AUD 175, premium seats will be priced at more than eleven times that amount, highlighting how rugby also faces the challenge of balancing the exclusivity of its major events with access for its most loyal fans.

Record Ticket Prices for a Growing Global Event

Tournament organizers have defended this pricing policy, arguing that it reflects the global stature and elite nature of the competition. According to officials, the revenue generated by final tickets helps support more affordable pricing for other matches, allowing more people to experience the Rugby World Cup, even if they do not attend its most anticipated game.

The figures illustrate the scale of the increase. In the 2003 final, also played at the same Sydney venue, the most expensive ticket cost AUD 450. Two decades later, that amount is lower than even a mid-tier ticket for the 2027 final, underscoring not only inflation but also the growing commercialization and international demand surrounding rugby.

A Ballot System to Manage High Demand

Ticket sales have entered a new application phase, giving fans two weeks to request seats for the final. If demand exceeds supply, tickets will be allocated through a ballot system designed to provide equal opportunities amid the enormous anticipation surrounding the tournament’s most important match.

The first sales phase, held in February, had already demonstrated the massive global interest in the Rugby World Cup, with 750,000 tickets sold and a digital platform overwhelmed by demand, forcing thousands of users to wait for hours. For many supporters, securing a ticket will depend not only on budget, but also on patience and luck to be part of a day destined to be remembered in rugby history.

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The ruling also includes a six-year suspension for Giorgi Chkoidze, three-year bans for Lasha Khmaladze, Otar Lashkhi and Miriani Modebadze, and a nine-month suspension for Lasha Lomidze. Doctor Nutsa Shamatava, the team’s former medical officer, was banned for nine years, while the Georgia Rugby Union accepted a misconduct charge, a financial penalty and new obligations around anti-doping education and control.

A sample substitution scheme before Rugby World Cup 2023

The investigation was launched after World Rugby detected irregularities in urine samples collected through its out-of-competition testing programme in the period before Rugby World Cup 2023 in France. Further analysis, including DNA testing and samples preserved through the governing body’s long-term storage system, linked Sharikadze to samples attributed to three other Georgia players.

According to World Rugby, Sharikadze provided urine for samples associated with Modebadze, Lomidze and Lashkhi between February 2022 and June 2023. Shamatava was identified as the organiser of the sample substitution scheme and also as the person who gave advance notice of out-of-competition tests in group chats involving at least 26 players.

The sporting and reputational blow for Sharikadze and Georgia

The governing body said its initial working hypothesis was that the substitutions were intended to conceal the use of performance-enhancing substances, although the investigation found no evidence to support that line. It did find credible evidence that the samples were switched to hide substances not linked to performance enhancement, including cannabis and tramadol.

The sanction bars Sharikadze from any rugby-related activity until 2035, although the player had already retired from the sport and started a career in mixed martial arts. His standing in Georgian rugby was significant: he captained the national team that beat Wales in Cardiff in 2022 and earned more than 100 caps for Georgia.

Georgia keeps its place at Rugby World Cup 2027

The case comes at a sensitive point for Georgia, a national team that had built much of its international profile on its dominance of the Rugby Europe Championship and on the recurring debate over its place in higher-level competition structures, including the Six Nations. The sanction does not amount to a direct sporting exclusion, but it does damage the institutional position of a union now required to apply additional anti-doping education and control measures after accepting the misconduct charge.

The institutional setback also follows an unexpected sporting result: Georgia lost the Rugby Europe Championship final to Portugal in March, 19-17, ending a 43-match unbeaten run in the competition and leaving the Georgians without the title for the first time since 2017. Georgia’s participation in Rugby World Cup 2027 is not affected by the case: the team keeps its place at the tournament in Australia and has been drawn in pool B alongside South Africa, Italy and Romania.

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Beyond logistics, the tournament represents a significant evolution in the history of rugby. The 2027 edition will be the first to feature 24 teams, expanding the sport’s global reach and strengthening its growth in new markets. In this context, Australia will not only serve as host but as the epicenter of a celebration aimed at balancing spectacle, competitiveness, and accessibility for an increasingly diverse global community.

A schedule that redefines the rugby experience

The structure of the Rugby World Cup 2027 schedule follows a clear logic: maximizing the experience for both players and fans. With matches primarily concentrated on weekends, the tournament aims to create a continuous festival atmosphere, turning host cities into vibrant international hubs. This approach not only facilitates attendance but also strengthens the connection between the event and local communities.

The opening match, featuring the Australia national rugby union team against the Hong Kong China national rugby union team in Perth, symbolizes the growth of rugby beyond its traditional powerhouses. Across 19 matchdays, with highlights such as a “Super Sunday” featuring five matches in a single day, the schedule reflects a narrative designed to sustain competitive intensity and global interest, while introducing a round of 16 for the first time in tournament history.

Accessibility, logistics, and a new global era

Planning by World Rugby also places strong emphasis on accessibility. With tickets starting at AUD 40 and one million tickets priced at AUD 100 or less, the goal is to bring the tournament closer to a wide range of fans without diminishing the appeal of marquee matches. The high demand already seen, reflected in the rapid sell-out of early passes, highlights the growing global interest in what promises to be a historic edition.

At the same time, organizers have developed a detailed logistical plan that considers everything from rest periods —with a minimum of five days between matches— to climate conditions and time zones, ensuring optimal performance and a strong global viewing experience. Major cities such as Brisbane and Sydney will host the decisive stages, including the final, positioning Australia as a world-class stage ready to redefine the standards of international rugby.

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The announcement by World Rugby comes at a key moment, as several emerging nations have begun to consolidate their sporting development and fan bases. With the debut set for July 4 in Montevideo, where the Uruguay national rugby union team will face the Georgia national rugby union team, the Nations Cup is positioned as a structured platform to enhance performance, generate revenue, and strengthen competitiveness ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2027.

A new competitive ecosystem for emerging nations

The Nations Cup is not just another tournament on the calendar: it is part of a broader redesign of international rugby. Integrated alongside the Nations Championship, this competition will allow 24 national teams to access high-level matches on a regular basis—something that has historically been limited for teams outside the traditional powerhouses. The two-group format, each with six teams, aims to ensure competitive balance, continuity, and a compelling narrative throughout the year.

In this context, teams from the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific will share the same competitive stage, facing each other in a format that prioritizes both sporting development and economic sustainability. For many of these unions, which have experienced steady growth in recent years, the Nations Cup represents a concrete opportunity to compete against similarly ranked opponents, refine their systems, and strengthen their identity within the global landscape.

America as the starting point of a new era

The decision to launch the tournament in the Americas is no coincidence. Throughout July, cities such as Montevideo, Santiago, Denver, Edmonton, and Winnipeg will become rugby hubs, hosting 18 matches that reflect both the sport’s geographic expansion and the enthusiasm of new audiences. The balanced distribution between North and South America not only broadens the tournament’s reach but also reinforces the connection between communities that have embraced rugby as part of their sporting identity.

At the same time, North America’s central role in the schedule—with multiple matches in the United States and Canada—highlights a clear long-term growth strategy. This is complemented by targeted support for Pacific nations such as Tonga and Samoa, as well as preparations for Fiji in parallel competitions, all aimed at leveling conditions and strengthening the global ecosystem. All of this is tied together through a new visual identity and a broadcast model designed to maximize access, connecting fans from different parts of the world to a competition that seeks to redefine the future of international rugby.

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