When you tell most people that they can claim compensation if they have been injured in a competitive sport, they often look slightly sceptical. For a long time in this country, we have viewed accidents on the pitch, the court, or the rink as part and parcel of the risks of playing a sport. However recent court cases have helped establish the duty of sports clubs to make sure their players are not literally taking chunks out of the opposition.
A good example is the recent case at the Court of Appeal between Redruth Rugby Football Club and Halifax Rugby Football Club. The case involved and on the pitch incident where Halifax player Andrew Gravil was hit by a Redruth player, damaging his eye socket. In court, Master of the Rolls, Sir Anthony Clarke said it was “fair and just” that a club could be held liable for the conduct of their players whether they were full time, or as in this case, semi-professional.
Sports Clubs take out insurance to cover their full time players to cover on-pitch assaults, but this case is the first time that liability has also been extended to semi-professional players. The judge accepted the arguments put forward by Mr. Gravil’s solicitor that there was still a contract of employment between Redruth RFC and its players whether they were full-time or only part-time.
Obviously with any judgement like this, there will be some scaremongering from the insurance industry that premiums will rocket. However it is the responsibility of a club to manage and train its players, and it should accept that the consequences of this may be more accidents and injuries on the pitch.
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