Former England rugby captain and 2003 World Cup winner, Lewis Moody, has announced he has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), also known as ALS.
The 47-year-old shared the news in a social media post and in an emotional interview with the BBC. He stated the diagnosis had been “incredibly hard to process and a huge shock to me and my family.”
Despite the severity of the condition, Moody said his current symptoms are minor, involving some muscle wasting in his hand and shoulder, and he feels “fit and well in myself” and is “focused on staying positive, living life and dealing with the changes I will experience as they come.”
Moody, who was an integral part of England’s 2003 World Cup victory and had a “glittering career” playing for the Leicester Tigers, Bath Rugby, and the British and Irish Lions, is being supported by his family, friends, and medical professionals.
He said he plans to continue his work with The Lewis Moody Foundation, which he and his wife, Annie, dedicated to supporting those affected by brain tumours, but will also look to create an opportunity to support a charity closer to his current situation with MND.
MND is a progressive neurological condition that causes muscle weakness. The announcement has drawn an outpouring of support from the rugby community, which has been at the forefront of high-profile fundraising campaigns for MND following the diagnoses of other players like Doddie Weir and Rob Burrow, who have since died from the disease.
