Scottish Rugby Apologizes for Tragic Death of Siobhan Cattigan
Scottish Rugby has issued a public apology to the family of Siobhan Cattigan, a talented Scotland Women’s rugby player who tragically passed away at the age of 26. It is believed that her death was due to undetected brain damage resulting from rugby-related concussions.
Cattigan suffered two concussions while representing the national team, and her family claims that she did not receive sufficient support from the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) for her brain injuries. In a scathing critique, the family has accused Scottish Rugby of neglecting to conduct an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding her death.
John McGuigan, the chair of Scottish Rugby, expressed his deep condolences to Cattigan’s family and loved ones on behalf of the organization. McGuigan acknowledged that the handling of Cattigan’s situation could have been better managed and vowed to introduce changes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Cattigan’s parents have shared their belief that Scottish Rugby should have provided greater support during her time as an international player, particularly in terms of medical care and communication. They have also criticized the SRU for failing to inform Cattigan’s teammates of the family’s wish for them to attend her funeral and for delays in paying tribute to her.
Taking responsibility for the mishandling of certain elements surrounding Cattigan’s funeral, McGuigan expressed regret for not directly contacting the family. He vowed to improve communication and offered his condolences for any distress caused by the delays in honoring Cattigan’s memory.
In response to the criticism, Scottish Rugby acknowledged their shortcomings and pledged full support to maintain Cattigan’s memory. Meetings have taken place between McGuigan and Cattigan’s family to discuss actions that can be taken together to honor and remember the talented rugby player.
The tragic case of Siobhan Cattigan has sparked an important conversation about player safety and the support offered to athletes suffering from brain injuries. Scottish Rugby is now faced with the challenge of implementing the necessary changes to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
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