Scottish Rugby has admitted to shortcomings in how they honored Siobhan Cattigan at a pre-game tribute during the Six Nations match against Ireland in 2023 at Murrayfield, acknowledging the need for a more sensitive approach.
The organization expressed deep regret and acknowledged that it failed the family of Siobhan Cattigan, the former national player. Cattigan, who tragically passed away in November 2021 at the age of 26, suffered from unrecognised brain injuries related to rugby, which her family believes led to a severe decline in her health and ultimately her death.
Cattigan, a back-row player who earned 19 caps from 2018 to 2021, experienced two concussions while playing for Scotland. Her family has been openly critical of the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) for not conducting an independent investigation into the events leading to her death. The family also initiated legal proceedings against Scottish Rugby and World Rugby, citing a lack of adequate support for her brain injuries.
At the Scottish Rugby annual meeting, newly appointed chairman John McGuigan acknowledged the organization’s failure in appropriately handling the situation and accepting responsibility for the mismanagement of aspects related to Cattigan’s funeral.
The governing body has also admitted to not informing Cattigan’s teammates of her family’s wish for them to attend her funeral and failing to extend direct condolences to the family. Furthermore, they recognized that subsequent events should have been handled differently.
McGuigan, who has had discussions with Cattigan’s parents and partner in recent months, conveyed his apologies on behalf of Scottish Rugby. He expressed remorse for any distress caused to Siobhan and her family, both during her time with the national team and after her passing.
“Though it was not our intention to cause the family distress, it is evident that we could have managed this tragic situation more effectively,” McGuigan stated. “We have taken the lessons to heart and, in remembrance of Siobhan, commit to implementing changes to become a more responsible and sensitive organization moving forward.”
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Siobhan Cattigan Tribute
What was Scottish Rugby’s admission regarding Siobhan Cattigan’s tribute?
Scottish Rugby admitted that they mishandled the tribute to former international player Siobhan Cattigan at a Six Nations match. They acknowledged the need for a more sensitive approach and apologized for the distress caused to her family.
Who was Siobhan Cattigan?
Siobhan Cattigan was a former Scottish rugby player who earned 19 caps between 2018 and 2021. She tragically passed away in November 2021 at the age of 26, with her family citing unrecognised rugby-related brain injuries as a contributing factor to her death.
What actions did Scottish Rugby acknowledge as mishandled?
Scottish Rugby acknowledged they mishandled several aspects surrounding Cattigan’s tribute and funeral, including failing to inform her teammates of the family’s wishes, not extending direct condolences to the family, and overall handling of the tribute at the Six Nations match.
What steps has Scottish Rugby committed to taking following this incident?
Scottish Rugby has committed to making changes to ensure better handling of such situations in the future. This includes learning from the mistakes made in the Cattigan situation and implementing measures to become a more responsible and sensitive organization.
Has there been any legal action taken by Siobhan Cattigan’s family?
Yes, Siobhan Cattigan’s family has initiated legal proceedings against Scottish Rugby and World Rugby, citing a lack of adequate support for Siobhan’s brain injuries sustained during her rugby career.
More about Siobhan Cattigan Tribute
- Scottish Rugby’s Official Statement
- Siobhan Cattigan’s Rugby Profile
- Six Nations Rugby
- Brain Injuries in Rugby
- Legal Aspects in Sports Injuries
- Mental Health and Well-being in Athletes
4 comments
its really sad what happend to siobhan, glad to see scottish rugby finally owning up to their mistakes, but it’s too late for her famliy…
this is why we need more focus on player safety, especially brain injuries, it’s not just a game when lives are at stake
tragic story, but good on Scottish Rugby for apologizing and trying to make things right. Hope they really learn from this.
curious about the legal actions against Scottish Rugby and World Rugby, wonder how this will play out in court, could be a game changer for sports injuries litigation.