Lewis Moody and ALS: Experts deny direct link with rugby

Rugby and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): An In-Depth Analysis

An expert in ALS, an incurable degenerative disease affecting the muscles, has stated that there is no direct causal connection between playing rugby and the development of this condition. The news of former England captain Lewis Moody’s ALS diagnosis has shocked the rugby world. This disease also caused the deaths of other prominent players such as Doddie Weir, Rob Burrow, and Joost van der Westhuizen. Ed Slater, Leicester and Gloucester second row, also received the same diagnosis in 2022. Dr. Nick Cole, head of research at the ALS Association, explains that research suggests a combination of factors is responsible for this progressive disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord.

Lewis Moody was capped 71 times for England during his illustrious career.

“There is no concrete and definitive link between rugby and ALS,” Cole stated.
Dr. Nick Cole

Studies have been conducted to find common points or causes related to sports and exercise. Although some studies suggest a higher risk in professional athletes, these were limited, indicating a smaller increase in a reduced group of people. Perception is influenced by the visibility of public figures who share their stories. However, six people are diagnosed with ALS every day. Rugby itself is not the direct cause, but there could be a genetic predisposition to develop ALS in people prone to physical activity and sports. ALS is caused by a combination of environmental factors, lifestyle, and genetics.

Sport could be one of the contributing factors, but there are many other aspects within the biology of ALS that are being investigated to find effective treatments. Recently, significant advances have been made in treatment, with the development of an effective therapy for a genetic form of ALS, although it is not yet available on the National Health Service. The ALS Association’s funding has supported many of these discoveries, and more medications are expected to be developed. However, neurodegenerative diseases are complex, and a cure could be found “tomorrow or within several years”.

“Now we know that ALS is not intractable, it is simply underfunded and we need to raise more funds to investigate and get closer to effective therapies,” Cole said.
Dr. Nick Cole

The diagnosis is devastating and difficult to accept for individuals and their families, as it can appear suddenly and affect anyone.

Geordan Murphy and Lewis Moody won seven Premiership titles together.Moody’s friends and former teammates at Leicester, Geordan Murphy and Leon Lloyd, have created a GoFundMe page for the British and Irish Lion, who captained England 12 times. “The disease can be very rapid in some people. A third of people die within two years of diagnosis,” Cole said. “Each case will require adaptation of the home, which can be a slow process through the statutory service, so that by the time the necessary funding is obtained, it is possible that one has already advanced to another stage of disability. The necessary care can be expensive, in addition to the inability to work.”