Former England national rugby union captain and the 2003 World Cup champion Lewis Moody has revealed that he has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND). In an interview recorded during a BBC discussion, in which he sat beside his wife Annie, he publicly announced the news.
Symptoms appeared several months ago – a noticeable weakness in his shoulder that did not disappear after a course of physiotherapy.
After being referred to a shoulder specialist, he underwent an MRI, which revealed signs of MND. The diagnosis is often linked to ALS, as about ninety percent of cases are of that form.
There is currently no cure for MND, and over time the disease weakens muscles, making walking, speaking, eating, drinking, and breathing more difficult.
«I’m not sad for myself, but for others», Moody said, his voice catching. «It’s sad because I’ll have to tell my mum, tell the kids. It was quite painful.»
– Lewis Moody
Moody has two children: Dylan, 17, and Ethan, 15.
«We were sitting on the sofa in tears, Ethan and Dylan were embracing one another, and then the dog sprang up and started licking the tears from our faces, which was quite cute»
– Lewis Moody
«The only good news for me is that it’s me, not Annie or the kids. I know I can cope with this, and they can cope with it.»
Moody’s Career and Impact
On the field Lewis earned a reputation as the “Mad Dog” – a nickname that reflects his determination in defense.
His career is marked by significant trophies: seven Premiership titles with the Leicester Tigers, 71 caps for England, and three appearances for the British & Irish Lions – a team drawn from the best rugby players in Great Britain and Ireland.
«This has come as a fairly big shock to all of us», Moody said. «All I have is that this is huge information to take in and deal with, and we are really emotionally shaken by it»
– Lewis Moody
«But this is so strange, because I feel like I’m all right. I don’t feel sick.»
«But it’s so strange, because I feel like I’m all right. I don’t feel sick.»
– Lewis Moody
In addition to him, other rugby players have also suffered from this disease, notably Doddie Weir and Rob Burrow, whose active campaigning for the team and fundraising for research drew attention to the issue and increased funding for scientific developments.
«Naively or not, I don’t know what’s right or wrong here, because we’ve never been in such a situation; there’s a tendency to avoid the future»
– Lewis Moody
«Not that I don’t understand where this is heading. We understand it. But right now there is an absolute reluctance to look the future in the face, while everything is going well»
– Lewis Moody
«The fact that I can’t reach out to people who are suffering from this makes me feel selfish for not being able to accept it and look to the future. But the time will come when I can do that and process it, and I want to do that as well»
– Lewis Moody