Lewis Moody and ALS: Expert denies direct link with rugby.

Rugby and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Complex Link

An expert on the incurable muscle-wasting disease known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) has stated that there is no direct causal connection between playing rugby and developing this condition. The news that Lewis Moody, former England captain, 47, has been diagnosed with ALS, has shocked the rugby world. This disease also caused the death 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 that a combination of factors is responsible for this progressive disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord.

Lewis Moody captained England on 71 occasions during his brilliant career.

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

Dr. Nick Cole

Cole added that considerable work has been done to find common ground or causes related to sport and exercise. Although some small studies suggest a higher risk in professional athletes, this increase is minimal. The expert points out that perception may be influenced by the visibility of public figures who share their stories. However, six people are diagnosed with ALS every day, suggesting that rugby is not the only factor. There could be a genetic predisposition in people with a physical constitution prone to sports activity. ALS is caused by a combination of environmental factors, lifestyle, and genetics.

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Sport could be a contributing factor, but many other aspects of ALS biology 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 ELA 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 affect anyone and arise unexpectedly.

Geordan Murphy and Lewis Moody won seven Premiership titles together.Friends and former Leicester teammates of Moody, 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, and a third of patients die within two years of diagnosis. The expert explains that each case requires adaptations to the home, which can be a slow process through statutory services, and that the necessary care can be expensive, in addition to the inability to work.