Former England rugby captain Lewis Moody has revealed he has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, two weeks after receiving the devastating news. The 47-year-old 2003 Rugby World Cup winner spoke publicly about his condition in an emotional interview, admitting he cannot yet face the full implications of the muscle-wasting disease.
Moody said: "There's something about looking the future in the face and not wanting to really process that at the minute. It's not that I don't understand where it's going. We understand that. But there is absolutely a reluctance to look the future in the face for now."
Discovery and diagnosis
The former Leicester Tigers player discovered something was wrong after noticing weakness in his shoulder while training in the gym. When physiotherapy failed to improve the problem, scans revealed nerves in his brain and spinal cord had been damaged by MND.
Moody said: "You're given this diagnosis of MND and we're rightly quite emotional about it, but it's so strange because I feel like nothing's wrong. I don't feel ill. I don't feel unwell. My symptoms are very minor. I have a bit of muscle wasting in the hand and the shoulder."
Despite the diagnosis, he feels physically capable of doing everything and hopes this will continue for as long as possible. The disconnect between having a life-limiting disease and feeling well has been one of the most difficult aspects to process.
Devastating family conversations
Telling his family proved to be the hardest part of the diagnosis. Moody said telling his sons Dylan, 17, and Ethan, 15, "was the hardest thing I've ever had to do."
According to Mirror reports, the family sat together in tears, with both boys wrapped up in each other, when their dog jumped over and started licking the tears off their faces. Moody also expressed particular sadness about telling his mother, saying as an only child, the implications for her were especially difficult.
Focusing on the present
MND kills a third of people within a year and more than half within two years of diagnosis, as swallowing and breathing become increasingly difficult. Treatment can only slow deterioration, which drives Moody's determination to focus on the present.
Moody said: "There is no cure and that is why you have to be so militantly focused on just embracing and enjoying everything now. As Annie said, we've been really lucky that the only real decision I made when I retired from playing was to spend as much time with the kids as possible."
Rugby community support
The British & Irish Lions have expressed their support, with Chair Ieuan Evans highlighting Moody's contributions including scoring a try in the 2005 final test, according to Manchester Evening News. Moody has told former captain Martin Johnson and a few other teammates about his diagnosis, but most will learn the news with the public.
The Lewis Moody Foundation, which has supported brain tumour research for 12 years, plans to extend its work to include MND-related causes, according to Daily Mail and Sky News reports. Moody acknowledged he wasn't ready yet to reach out to Ed Slater, another former rugby player living with MND, but said he would when the time was right.
The MND crisis in rugby
Elite athletes are disproportionately affected by MND, with studies suggesting rates up to six times higher than the general population. Research indicates that regular, strenuous exercise may trigger the disease in those already genetically susceptible by limiting oxygen availability and damaging motor neurone cells.
The disease has claimed several rugby figures, including Rob Burrow, who died in June 2024, and Doddie Weir. Both men campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness before their deaths, with Burrow co-founding the 745 Game fundraising match that brings together league and union stars.
Moody, nicknamed 'Mad Dog' for his fearless playing style, won 71 England caps and toured with the British and Irish Lions. In the 2003 World Cup final victory over Australia, he claimed a crucial lineout ball that set up the platform for Jonny Wilkinson's match-winning drop goal.
Living with purpose
Reflecting on his career and diagnosis, Moody told his sons: "I've had an incredible life. Even if it ended now, I've enjoyed all of it and embraced all of it and got to do it with unbelievable people. When you get to call your passion your career, it's one of the greatest privileges."
Sources used: "BBC", "Mirror", "Metro", "Manchester Evening News", "Daily Mail", "Sky News" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
