Four Lions revealed to be part of group suing authorities over brain injuries

• Lawyers withdraw anonymity application for 43 players
• World Rugby, RFU and WRU want end to delays in case

Four more former British & Irish Lions have been revealed to be part of the group of players participating in legal action against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union over allegations they sustained brain injuries playing the sport. Lee Byrne, Gareth Cooper, Harry Ellis and Phil Greening, who toured with the Lions between 2001 and 2009, are among a group of 43 who can now be identified when their lawyers withdrew their application for anonymity after a hearing to ­discuss the matter last week.

Also among the 43 are the England World Cup-winner Heather Stirrup, and a number of former ­internationals including Scotland’s David Denton, Wales’s Jonathan Thomas, Iestyn Thomas, Chris Horsman and Nic Evans, and the former England ­Sevens captain Kris Chesney. Two other players were seeking ­anonymity in advance of withdrawing their claims. The law firm Rylands Garth represents 394 rugby union players and it says a ­further 350 have signed ­engagement letters.

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