Lewis Moody, who was part of England’s 2003 World Cup-winning squad, revealed last month that he had been diagnosed with the incurable muscle-wasting condition.
Ex-England captain Lewis Moody has been touched by the outpouring of love and support which followed his MND diagnosis. (Image: (Bob Bradford – CameraSport via Getty Images))
Lewis Moody has provided an update on his condition after being touched by the outpouring of love and support which followed his motor neurone disease diagnosis. The former England rugby union captain announced his MND diagnosis in October.
Moody, 47, discovered he had MND after noticing some weakness in his shoulder while training in the gym. After physiotherapy failed to improve the problem, a series of scans showed that nerves in his brain and spinal cord had been damaged.
The 2003 World Cup winner was given a warm welcome when he carried the match ball on to the Allianz Stadium pitch ahead of England’s Test against Australia earlier this month. More than £200,000 has also been raised on a GoFundMe page set up by his friends and former Leicester Tigers team-mates, Geordan Murphy and Leon Lloyd, to support the ex-flanker and his family.
Providing an update on his condition, he told the Stick to Rugby podcast: “Everyone has been super supportive, super kind. There has been a lot of love shown.
“For me it’s a weird thing. I feel fine. You have got this sort of piece of news hanging over you, constantly lingering in the back of your mind but, actually, in yourself, bar the little changes that start to creep in.
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“The weird bit and the hard bit is probably second-guessing everything that is occurring, any other little sort of muscle changes or tweaks.
“Touch wood, everything is good and the outpouring of love and kindness has been really welcomed.”
Moody won 71 caps for England, while he also played three Tests for the British and Irish Lions and won multiple domestic and European titles during a golden era for his club side, Leicester Tigers. MND has caused the death of fellow players Doddie Weir, Rob Burrow and Joost van der Westhuizen in recent years.
Lewis Moody applauds with his family before presenting the match ball prior to England’s Test against Australia earlier this month. (Image: (David Rogers/Getty Images))
And Moody admitted: “I have learnt a lot along the way. When Doddie (Weir) was diagnosed seven years ago, there was nothing, really there was nothing for him.
“And because of the work that he did and Rob (Burrow), when I speak to specialists now there is genuine hope.”
Kevin Sinfield revealed earlier this week he is hoping Moody can be part of his latest challenge to raise funding and awareness for MND. Sinfield has raised more than £10million to fund research and raise awareness of MND since his friend and Leeds Rhinos team-mate Burrow was diagnosed with the disease in 2019.
Burrow died from complications of the disease at the age of 41 in June last year. Sinfield will embark on the ‘7 in 7: Together’ challenge next Monday, his sixth annual event to support the MND community.
Kevin Sinfield embraces former team-mate Rob Burrow after completing his Extra Mile Challenge at Emerald Headingley Stadium in November 2021. (Image: (George Wood/Getty Images))
The 45-year-old will run seven ultramarathons in seven days, culminating on December 7 at Leeds Rhinos’ AMT Headingley Stadium and combining with the Leeds Santa Dash. The former Rugby League star has been in touch with Moody and revealed: “It reminded me so much of Rob, that first conversation.
“I know (Lewis) is a World Cup winner, but [even] that probably doesn’t do him justice of what a great champion guy he is. He’s just a lovely man, a big family man. I’m very hopeful he will join us at some point on the route.
“Probably because of our locations this year, it doesn’t make it particularly easy for him to get to us, but I’m pretty hopeful he’ll join us at some point. It would be great to have him with us.
“It’d be important for Lewis to see the love and support that is out there from the MND community, because I think he’d be bowled over by the support, by the love, by the well-wishers. We’d love to have him with us.”
If you’ve been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information from the MND Association. The charity’s helpline MND Connect (0808 802 6262) is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and 7pm to 10.30pm
