Former English Rugby Union Captain Reveals MND Diagnosis

Former English skipper Lewis Moody has announced he has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease and stated he cannot yet confront the full implications of the muscle-wasting condition that claimed the lives of other rugby players Doddie Weir and Rob Burrow.

The 47-year-old, who was a member of the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning side and lifted numerous English and European titles with Leicester, appeared on BBC Breakfast two weeks after finding out he has the condition.

"There's something about looking the future in the face and not wanting to really process that at the minute," he said.

"It isn't that I am unaware of where it's heading. We grasp that. But there is absolutely a reluctance to look the future in the face for now."

Moody, talking alongside his wife Annie, states rather he feels "calm" as he directs his attention to his immediate health, his family and getting ready for when the illness deteriorates.

"Possibly that's trauma or possibly I deal with matters uniquely, and when I have the facts, it's more manageable," he continued.

Initial Symptoms

Moody discovered he had MND after detecting some weakness in his shoulder area while exercising in the gym.

After physical therapy was ineffective for the issue, a series of scans indicated nerves in his central nervous system had been affected by MND.

"You're presented with this condition identification of MND and we're understandably very affected about it, but it's so strange because I sense that nothing's wrong," he added.

"I don't experience ill. I don't experience unwell

"The signs I have are quite slight. I have a small amount of muscle deterioration in the fingers and the shoulder region.

"I'm still competent to doing whatever I want. And optimistically that will carry on for as long as is attainable."

Disease Progression

MND can progress quickly.

Based on the organization MND Association, the condition kills a 33% of people within a 365 days and more than half within 730 days of detection, as eating and breathing become harder.

Treatment can only slow deterioration.

"It's never me that I feel sad for," stated an emotional Moody.

"It's the grief around having to break the news to my mum - as an single child - and the ramifications that has for her."

Personal Effect

Speaking from the household with his wife and their canine companion by his side, Moody was overwhelmed by sentiment when he spoke about breaking the news to his sons - teenage Dylan and adolescent Ethan - the traumatic news, saying: "That represented the most difficult thing I've ever had to do."

"They're two excellent boys and that was rather upsetting," Moody stated.

"We positioned ourselves on the settee in weeping, Ethan and Dylan both embraced in each other, then the dog jumped over and began removing the drops off our faces, which was somewhat funny."

Moody stated the priority was being in the present.

"There exists no cure and that is why you have to be so militantly directed on just embracing and appreciating everything now," he commented.

"As my wife mentioned, we've been really lucky that the primary decision I made when I left playing was to devote as much time with the kids as possible. We won't recover those periods back."

Player Association

Professional athletes are unevenly impacted by MND, with research indicating the incidence of the disease is up to 600% greater than in the wider community.

It is believed that by reducing the air available and causing harm to neural pathways, consistent, vigorous training can activate the disease in those inherently predisposed.

Rugby Playing Days

Moody, who earned 71 England selections and competed with the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand in 2005, was called 'Mad Dog' during his professional days, in recognition of his courageous, relentless method to the game.

He participated through a fracture of his leg for a period with Leicester and once sparked a practice scuffle with colleague and friend Martin Johnson when, annoyed, he left a practice gear and started engaging in collisions.

After coming on as a reserve in the Rugby World Cup decisive match win over Australia in 2003, he claimed a ball at the end of the line-out in the decisive phase of play, creating a platform for playmaker Matt Dawson to advance and Jonny Wilkinson to score the game-deciding drop kick.

Backing Network

Moody has previously notified Johnson, who led England to that championship, and a couple of other ex- team-mates about his diagnosis, but the others will be learning his news with the broader public.

"There shall be a time when we'll need to lean on their assistance but, at the minute, just having that sort of care and acceptance that people are there is what's important," he stated.

"Rugby is such a great community.

"I told to the kids the other day, I've had an incredible life.

"Even if it finished now, I've valued all of it and accepted all of it and got to do it with unbelievable people.

"Being able to call your enthusiasm your vocation, it's one of the most important privileges.

"Achieving this for so considerable a duration with the squads that I did it with was a delight. And I know they will desire to help in every way they can and I await having those conversations."