England rugby icon Lewis Moody issues health update after cruel MND diagnosis | Rugby | Sport

Lewis Moody has expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support he’s received since revealing his motor neurone disease diagnosis. The former England rugby captain, who announced his MND diagnosis in October, discovered he had the condition after experiencing weakness in his shoulder during a gym session. After physiotherapy proved ineffective, scans revealed damage to nerves in his brain and spinal cord.

Moody, a World Cup winner in 2003, was warmly greeted when he delivered the match ball onto the pitch ahead of England’s game against Australia earlier this month. A GoFundMe page set up by his friends and former Leicester Tigers team-mates, Geordan Murphy and Leon Lloyd, has already raised more than £200,000 to support the ex-flanker and his family.

Speaking on the Stick to Rugby podcast, Moody said: “Everyone has been super supportive, super kind. There has been a lot of love shown.

“For me it’s a weird thing. I feel fine. You have got this sort of piece of news hanging over you, constantly lingering in the back of your mind but, actually, in yourself, bar the little changes that start to creep in.

“The weird bit and the hard bit is probably second-guessing everything that is occurring, any other little sort of muscle changes or tweaks.

“Touch wood, everything is good and the outpouring of love and kindness has been really welcomed.”

Moody, who earned 71 caps for England and played three Tests for the British and Irish Lions, also enjoyed a successful club career with Leicester Tigers.

He has seen fellow players Doddie Weir, Rob Burrow and Joost van der Westhuizen succumb to MND in recent years.

Reflecting on his journey, Moody confessed: “I have learnt a lot along the way. When Doddie was diagnosed seven years ago, there was nothing, really there was nothing for him.

“And because of the work that he did and Rob, when I speak to specialists now there is genuine hope.”

Earlier this week, Kevin Sinfield announced his hopes for Moody to join his latest fundraising challenge for MND.

Sinfield has already raised over £10million for research and awareness since his friend and Leeds Rhinos team-mate Burrow was diagnosed with the disease in 2019.