Former rugby players diagnosed with brain injuries could get millions of pounds from the sport's governing bodies to pay for their care.

More than 200 ex-players have accused rugby governing bodies of failing to protect them against brain injuries.

Legal experts said the claims against the organisations could exceed £300m.

World Rugby, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said they constantly strive to safeguard players.

The class action suit is being taken against all three governing bodies..

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Crispin Cormack won the league and cup with Pontypridd in the 1990s, played for London Welsh and toured with Wales in Australia.

He now specialises in serious injury cases for Coles Miller Solicitors, including concussion, and believes the claims could reach into the hundreds of millions of pounds.

Mr Cormack said: "I would say a conservative estimate, personally, and I don't know everything about the claims and I've obviously not been privy to the medical reports, but if we take the worst possible scenario, I'd say a minimum of £300m and it could be skyrocketing upwards."

Jonathan Compton, a qualified barrister and solicitor who specialises in litigation at DMH Stallard, has advised large sports organisations in the past.

Mr Compton said: "I would expect any damages, because they affect younger people over a longer period of time, could be substantial."

He said he had no reason to doubt Mr Cormack's estimate.

"Given the numbers involved, I don't think that is an unreasonable figure - you're looking at a substantial number of people," he said.

Former dual-code professional Lenny Woodard, 46, is one of the many former rugby stars who have been diagnosed with early onset dementia.

The Pontypool born star, who won five Wales Rugby League caps and played for Wales in South Africa, now sits on a committee representing players involved in the claim.

He said he faced the prospect of having to retire in the next few years and did not want his partner or children to pay for what could be decades of care.

Mr Woodard said: "I was diagnosed in 2021, slowly but surely I see things getting worse.

"There's a misconception that we're trying to get a pay-out out of greed - but for me personally, and I'm sure I speak on behalf of the others, we're just making sure our families aren't burdened with the cost of treating these diagnoses.

"I'm 46 now, in nine years time, at 55, I'll require full-time care then. If I live to 75, that's 20 years of full-time care. If you're looking at £1,500 a week on current figures, we're approaching millions of pounds.

"I don't want to go into any care setting, and I certainly don't want to be there for 20 years, but that is the reality we have to plan for."