Former Saracens flanker Matt Hankin has alleged that he suffered a career-ending concussion during a club tour.
The player has had a long-running battle to recover from concussion and one which he candidly shone light upon in an interview with the RPA, describing the injury as making him feel anxious, isolated and a prisoner in his own home.
Sad little sidenote in Saracens’ end of season departures – Matt Hankin. Promising career derailed by brain injuries. “Rugby’s gone soft” BS needs to be left in the past. https://t.co/fl4T2yAc7r
— Alex Shaw (@alexshawsport) May 30, 2018
The 27-year-old has now revealed he suffered the injury by being hit in the head by teammate Richard Barrington in a Budapest bar in 2015.
It’s been a season from hell for Sarries with the reigning Premiership champions already fined £5m and relegated for salary cap breaches.
The Sun reports that In papers lodged at the High Court in London last Friday, it is said Barrington ‘… caused injury to the claimant by striking him on the head whilst he was wearing a metal helmet with a fire extinguisher’.
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In the documents seen by The Sun, Hankin also alleges ex-Sarries physio Nicholas Court failed to properly assess his injury when the team returned to London.
And he claims former club doctor Ademola Adejuwon was ‘negligent’ in allowing him to play rugby three weeks later, when he allegedly suffered further injury.
Barrington and Adejuwon also have lawsuits filed against them as part of the case.
RANKED | The 5 TOUGHEST England players to have ever lived…
Meet the five toughest English rugby players that ever lived.
From the loose cannons who start swinging punches at the slightest provocation to the silent assassins who relish putting in game-changing hits, every rugby team has its on-field enforcers.
5. Jonny Wilkinson
A fly-half? Yes, but this is no ordinary number 10. Pound for pound, Wilko is still the most destructive tackler the game has ever seen and few players have endured so much physical punishment yet kept coming back for more. Tough doesn’t even come close.