Ex- England Rugby Union Leader Announces MND Diagnosis

Ex- England skipper Lewis Moody has announced he has been found to have motor neurone disease and admitted he cannot yet deal with the full ramifications of the muscle-degenerating condition that ended the lives of other rugby players Doddie Weir and Rob Burrow.

The middle-aged sportsman, who was part of the World Cup champion 2003 side and won numerous English and European titles with Leicester, spoke to BBC Breakfast two weeks after finding out he has the condition.

"There's an element of confronting what lies ahead and being reluctant to really process that at the moment," he commented.

"It's not that I fail to comprehend where it's going. We grasp that. But there is certainly a unwillingness to face what's ahead for now."

Moody, talking with his wife Annie, explains conversely he feels "at ease" as he directs his attention to his immediate health, his family and making preparations for when the condition progresses.

"Perhaps that's shock or maybe I handle situations differently, and when I have the information, it's more manageable," he stated further.

Initial Signs

Moody discovered he had MND after observing some reduced power in his shoulder area while exercising in the gym.

After rehabilitation was ineffective for the issue, a number of scans showed nerve cells in his neurological system had been affected by MND.

"You're presented with this condition identification of MND and we're appropriately extremely affected about it, but it's quite odd because I think nothing's wrong," he continued.

"I don't experience unwell. I don't feel sick

"The signs I have are rather minimal. I have some muscle loss in the hand area and the shoulder.

"I'm still competent to doing whatever I want. And optimistically that will carry on for as long as is attainable."

Disease Development

MND can develop rapidly.

Based on the charity MND Association, the condition claims a one-third of people within a 365 days and over half within 24 months of identification, as eating and breathing become harder.

Treatment can only slow worsening.

"It's never me that I experience sorrow for," commented an moved Moody.

"It's about the sorrow around having to break the news to my mum - as an only child - and the ramifications that has for her."

Household Effect

Speaking from the family home with his wife and their pet dog by his side, Moody was consumed with sentiment when he spoke about breaking the news to his sons - 17-year Dylan and adolescent Ethan - the traumatic news, saying: "It was the toughest thing I've ever had to do."

"They're two brilliant boys and that was rather upsetting," Moody remarked.

"We positioned ourselves on the sofa in weeping, Ethan and Dylan both embraced in each other, then the dog bounded over and commenced cleaning the moisture off our faces, which was rather silly."

Moody explained the priority was staying in the present.

"There exists no treatment and that is why you have to be extremely militantly concentrated on just welcoming and savoring everything now," he commented.

"According to Annie, we've been really lucky that the primary decision I made when I concluded playing was to spend as much duration with the kids as feasible. We can't reclaim those times back."

Sportsman Link

Professional athletes are unevenly impacted by MND, with research indicating the rate of the illness is up to six times higher than in the wider community.

It is considered that by restricting the oxygen available and causing injury to neural pathways, consistent, vigorous exercise can activate the disease in those inherently genetically susceptible.

Rugby Career

Moody, who gained 71 England selections and competed with the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand in 2005, was called 'Mad Dog' during his professional days, in acknowledgment of his fearless, unwavering method to the game.

He played through a fracture of his leg for a duration with Leicester and once sparked a workout confrontation with fellow player and friend Martin Johnson when, irritated, he abandoned a tackle pad and started engaging in collisions.

After entering as a replacement in the Rugby World Cup final win over Australia in 2003, he won a ball at the end of the set piece in the critical passage of play, creating a base for half-back Matt Dawson to advance and Jonny Wilkinson to score the game-deciding field goal.

Assistance Community

Moody has previously told Johnson, who led England to that championship, and a couple of other former colleagues about his medical situation, but the rest will be learning his news with the remainder of public.

"We'll have a period when we'll need to depend on their assistance but, at the present, just having that type of care and recognition that people are available is all that matters," he said.

"This game is such a great group.

"I told to the kids the other day, I've had an extraordinary life.

"Even when it concluded now, I've appreciated all of it and welcomed all of it and got to do it with remarkable people.

"Being able to label your passion your profession, it's one of the most important privileges.

"Achieving this for so extended a period with the groups that I did it with was a pleasure. And I understand they will desire to assist in any way they can and I look forward to having those conversations."