A rugby player from Stourbridge who was paralysed when a scrum fell apart during a match has lost an appeal over a claim for compensation. James Allport, 27, from Old Swinford, sued the match referee, Timothy Wilbraham, over the spinal injuries he sustained in the 1998 accident.
Last year, his claim was rejected on the grounds that Mr Wilbraham had made sure the scrum was properly engaged.
The decision was upheld by the Appeal Court on Wednesday.
'Circumstances unclear'
The judges said they could find no flaw in the original ruling despite the injuries Mr Allport sustained.
Mr Allport was not present to hear the judges dismiss his appeal.
He was paralysed from the neck down during the match between his club, Stourbridge, and Cheltenham Nomads in October 1998.
At Wednesday's hearing the judge said the exact circumstances surrounding the accident were not clear.
But he said it appeared Mr Allport suffered a severe blow to his head or neck because his head was not in the correct position as the two teams came together to engage in a scrum.
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
