Rugby and ALS: Expert denies direct link after Lewis Moody diagnosis

Rugby and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Demystifying the Connection

An expert in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an incurable neuromuscular disease, has stated that there is no direct causal link between playing rugby and developing this condition. The rugby world has been shaken by the news of the diagnosis of ALS for former England captain Lewis Moody, 47 years old. This disease also caused the deaths of other prominent players such as Doddie Weir, Rob Burrow, and Joost van der Westhuizen. Ed Slater, who played in the second row for Leicester and Gloucester, was also diagnosed with ALS in 2022. Dr. Nick Cole, head of research at the MND Association, explains that research suggests that a combination of factors is responsible for this progressive disease that affects the brain and spinal cord.

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

Dr. Nick Cole

According to Cole, numerous studies have been conducted to identify possible connections between sports and ALS. Although some studies suggest a slight increase in risk in professional athletes, these studies were limited in size and scope. Cole suggests that the visibility of cases like Moody’s can influence public perception, but it is important to remember that six people are diagnosed with ALS every day. Cole explains that ALS is the result of a combination of environmental factors, lifestyle, and genetics. Sport could be a contributing factor, but many other areas of ALS biology are being investigated to develop effective treatments.

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Significant progress has recently been made in the treatment of ALS, with the development of an effective therapy for a genetic form of the disease, although it is not yet available in the National Health Service. Funding from the MND Association has been critical to many of these discoveries. More drugs are expected to be developed, but neurodegenerative diseases are complex, and a cure could be available “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 further and get closer to effective therapies,” said Cole.

Dr. Nick Cole

Moody’s friends and former teammates at Leicester, Geordan Murphy and Leon Lloyd, have created a GoFundMe page to support the British player and Irish Lion who captained England 12 times.

Dr. Cole points out that the disease can progress rapidly in some people, and that a third of patients die within two years of diagnosis. In addition to the medical challenges, people with ALS and their families face the need to adapt their homes and the difficulty of accessing the necessary care, which can be costly and affect the ability to work.