Lewis Moody, English rugby legend, reveals ALS (MND) diagnosis

Former England captain Lewis Moody has revealed he has been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Motor Neuron Disease (MND). Moody, 47, retired from rugby in 2012 after an illustrious 16-year career, during which he represented the Leicester Tigers, Bath, England and the British and Irish Lions. The former flanker won almost all available trophies and played in some of the most important matches in the sport.

Lewis Moody’s Career

Lewis Moody was born on June 12, 1978, in Ascot. He started playing rugby at the age of five in Bracknell, a team he represented until he was 12 years old. He attended the prestigious Oakham rugby school, where English internationals Jack van Poortvliet and Tom Croft also studied, as well as Hamish Watson of Scotland and Welsh fly-half Sam Costelow. In his school days, Moody initially played as a center and then as a fullback. Subsequently, he joined the Leicester Tigers academy, where he became a flanker.

Quickly, Moody caused a sensation in Leicester and became the youngest player to represent the club in the league in 1996, at 18 years and 94 days old, a record now held by Ben Youngs. He became a pillar at Welford Road, representing the club 217 times, the most for a flanker, before spending his final two years at Bath. He debuted for England in 2001 against Canada and became a key player in the team that won the World Cup in 2003. He also represented the British and Irish Lions on the 2005 tour to New Zealand.

Lewis Moody’s Achievements

Moody was at Leicester during their glory years and participated in seven Premiership victories, including four consecutive titles between 1999 and 2002. The Tigers also won consecutive European titles in 2001 and 2002, and Moody was also part of the team that won the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2007.

He won 71 caps for England, winning two Six Nations titles, including the Grand Slam in 2003. He played in all seven matches as England made history by winning the 2003 Rugby World Cup, winning the decisive lineout before Jonny Wilkinson’s winning drop goal in the final and receiving an MBE in 2004. Played in all three matches of the 2005 Lions series in New Zealand. In 2007, Moody was again fundamental to England, as they reached the final of the 2007 World Cup, and he ended his career as England captain at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, before retiring from all forms of the game a year later.

Moody’s Play Style

Having debuted at 18 against Orrell, few would have predicted what Moody’s career would be like. Remembering his debut in 2002, Moody said: “It was quite scary.” “They all seemed huge, they thought, ‘who the hell is this young man?’ I weighed about 13 stones at the time and they treated me like a rag doll: it was much harder than I thought, and it taught me a lot.”

Moody became a fearless and uncompromising flanker, and developed the nickname “Mad Dog” for his commitment to the club and country’s cause. Moody’s passion for the game was unsurpassed, as demonstrated by playing with a stress fracture in his leg while at Leicester. He also recovered quickly from a nasty ankle fracture, playing the full 80 minutes in his first game back just three months later. The flanker never backed down from any challenge, perhaps he proved it best when Moody became the first English player to be sent off at Twickenham after getting into a fight with his Leicester teammate Alesana Tuilagi in the victory over Samoa.

After the Withdrawal

After retiring as a player in March 2012, Moody created the Lewis Moody Foundation in 2014, a charity that helps fight brain tumors with research, support, and education. Moody’s legacy in the field has continued with his son Dylan, who is a promising goalkeeper with Southampton’s under-18 team and has represented England under-18.

What is the ENM?

Motor neuron disease causes muscle weakness that progressively worsens over months or years. The messages from the motor neurons in the spinal cord and brain gradually stop reaching the muscles, causing them to weaken, become rigid, and atrophy. There is currently no cure for ALS, but treatments can help manage symptoms for as long as possible. The condition usually develops from the age of 50. People with ALS have a reduced life expectancy. Other rugby players, Doddie Weir and Rob Burrow, passed away after being diagnosed with the disease in recent years.

Symptoms of ME/CFS

The first symptoms include stiff or weak hands; people may have trouble holding or gripping things. Other signs include weakness in the legs and feet. This can cause problems with tripping, lifting the feet, or climbing stairs, for example. People may also experience spasms, twitches, or painful muscle cramps, the last signs of MND include problems with breathing, swallowing, and speech. Approximately half of the people with ME/CFS experience changes in their thinking and behavior.

Diagnosis of the NMD

Neurologists often diagnose ALS after a general practitioner refers a patient. Tests that help diagnose ALS include blood tests, nerve tests, and MRIs. The symptoms of ME/CFS can progress at different speeds, which can make it difficult to diagnose the illness.

Impact and Types of ENM

The CJD affects up to 5,000 adults in the UK at any given time. Overall, there is a one in 300 risk of contracting CJD over a person’s lifetime. Different forms of MND affect people in different ways. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of MND, which causes weakness and wasting in the limbs, muscle stiffness, and cramps. The first symptoms usually include stumbling or dropping objects. The onset of bulbar onset MND or progressive bulbar palsy (PBP) primarily affects the muscles of the face, throat, and tongue, with early signs including difficulty speaking or swallowing. Progressive muscular atrophy (PMA) affects fewer people, while primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a rare form of MND.

Moody’s Statements

After revealing his diagnosis in an interview with the BBC, Moody said on social media:

I am writing to share some difficult news.

Lewis Moody

“I was recently diagnosed with ALS, also known as motor neuron disease. “This has been incredibly difficult to process and a big surprise for me and my family. “I feel fit and well and focus on staying positive, living life, and dealing with the changes I will experience as they come. Since I retired from the sport I love and together with my wife Annie, I have been able to dedicate a large part of the last 12 years to raising funds for the Lewis Moody Foundation in support of people affected by brain tumors. My plan is to continue with this, but also to create an opportunity to support a charity closer to my current situation. I will continue to embrace life and seize opportunities in the same way I always have.