Will Pucovski Sues Former School Over Concussion That Haunted His Cricket Career
Former Australian Test cricketer Will Pucovski has launched legal action against his old school, Brighton Grammar, over its handling of a concussion he suffered during an Australian rules football training session in 2014 — an injury his lawyers say set the course for a career defined by repeated head trauma and, ultimately, early retirement.
Pucovski, who played one Test for Australia against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2021, announced his medical retirement from cricket in April 2025, aged 27. He had not played since March 2024, when a severe concussion — suffered after being struck by a delivery from Tasmania's Riley Meredith in a Sheffield Shield match (Australia's first-class competition) — ended his time on the field The Guardian.
In a writ filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria, Pucovski claimed he experienced at least 13 known concussion injuries from balls to the head during his cricket career. His lawyers argue those subsequent concussions exacerbated symptoms from the primary head injury he sustained at school when he was 16 The Guardian.
The 2014 incident occurred during a full-contact training drill at Brighton Grammar. According to the writ, a coach directed students to "go in hard" against each other after the school's Australian rules team had lost heavily to rival Scotch College the previous weekend. Pucovski was hit in the left temple by a teammate's knee during a sling tackle and knocked unconscious.
After regaining consciousness, Pucovski was helped off the oval. But when the coach allegedly asked if he could take part in the next drill, Pucovski returned to the field for the rest of the session. His lawyers claim the coach lacked appropriate accreditation to train junior amateur players and failed to arrange any medical assessment. The writ also alleges the school never informed Pucovski's parents about the collision.
A GP diagnosed concussion three days later. Pucovski had been experiencing headaches but continued attending school. That weekend, he acted as a runner — carrying drinks and messages — for a Brighton Grammar seconds match. His headaches worsened and he developed nausea. A doctor later urged him to stop all physical activity and stay home from school for six weeks The Guardian.
The legal claim is severe in its language. The writ alleges the school was "grossly" in breach of its duty of care and showed "a high-handed, contumelious and callous disregard" for Pucovski's safety. His lawyers claim the 2014 injury left him with a traumatic brain injury, vision problems, persistent migraines and mental health conditions including OCD and anxiety. Following his retirement, Pucovski described ongoing symptoms: fatigue, headaches and motion sickness.
Brighton Grammar headmaster Ross Featherston told AAP the coach involved is "a highly regarded and experienced teacher" at the school. He said the school would make no further comment while legal proceedings were under way.
The claims in the writ are yet to be tested in court. Neither Brighton Grammar nor the coach has had an opportunity to file a defence The Guardian.
Pucovski's case joins a broader, uneasy conversation in sport about how head injuries are managed — from school ovals to international arenas. For cricket, a game where a hard ball travels at speeds that can exceed 90 mph, the stakes of that conversation are particular. Pucovski was widely regarded as one of Australia's most talented young batters; his single Test cap hints at a career that might have been. That it was cut short by concussion is a fact the scorecard records but cannot fully explain.
