Richard Vowles suffered spinal injuries in the 1998 game.

The Welsh Rugby Union has lost its appeal against a compensation claim by a player left paralysed after a match injury.

Tuesday's ruling means it may have to pay millions of pounds to 29-year-old former Llanharan RFC hooker Richard Vowles.

But union officials have vowed to mount a fresh challenge, by appealing to the House of Lords.

Judges at the Appeal Court in London have upheld an earlier ruling that Mr Vowles had been the victim of referee David Evans' negligence.

The WRU had contested a legal ruling that a referee was responsible for the on-field accident that left him paralysed for life.

Speaking after the judgement on Tuesday, WRU chairman Glanmor Griffiths said : "We are obviously disappointed by the decision made at the Court of Appeal because, we believe it will have implications not only for the game of rugby union, but also for many other sports.

"This has been a landmark case for sport in the UK, which may force the governing bodies of many sports to re-examine their rules and regulations and take a long hard look at training practices for players, coaches and officials.

Mr Vowles boxed at the Commonwealth Games

"While everybody connected with the game in Wales has the utmost sympathy with Richard Vowles, as a governing body we also have a responsibility to consider the wider implications for our game as a result of this decision.

"That is why we are considering applying for permission to appeal to the House of Lords."

Mr Vowles said he was delighted with the decision.

"As rugby players, we realise that playing the game carries the risk of injury but we also expect the authorities to do the utmost to minimise those risks," he said.

Consequences

"I hope that lessons will be learned from what happened to me and that the laws of the game will be properly implemented at all times in future."

Rugby officials have warned that a compensation award could have serious consequences for amateur sport in the UK, as it could open the floodgates for claims in other contact sports.

Mr Vowles has needed round-the-clock care since his spine was damaged when a scrum collapsed in the final seconds of a local derby between Llanharan and Tondu five years ago.

His lawyers argued successfully that the referee broke the rules of the January 1998 game by allowing the scrum to be weakened by an inexperienced player.

Former Commonwealth Games boxer Mr Vowles had taken up boxing professionally just prior to the accident.

At the High Court in London last December, the WRU admitted responsibility for the match referee's failure to opt for uncontested scrums, which caused the collapse.

The accident happened when the two front rows failed to engage properly and Mr Vowles was wedged between the players with too much pressure on his spine, the court heard.