Lewis Moody reveals motor neurone disease diagnosis

Lewis Moody, England’s World Cup-winning flanker, has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).

Moody, the former Leicester Tigers and Bath forward who played three Tests for the British and Irish Lions on the tour of New Zealand in 2005, said the diagnosis came as a “huge shock to me and my family”.

The 47-year-old, who is married to Annie and has two teenage sons, is one of the most decorated forwards to have played the game in England. He won 71 caps for his country and captained England at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand. He was awarded an MBE for services to rugby in 2004 after England’s Rugby World Cup victory.

Former Scotland international Doddie Weir and rugby league legend Rob Burrow died after suffering from the illness, as did South African World Cup-winner Joost van der Westhuizen. Former Leicester and Gloucester lock Ed Slater was forced to retire from rugby in 2022 after contracting the disease.  

“This has been incredibly hard to process and a huge shock to me and my family,” he told the BBC. “I feel fit and well in myself and I’m focused on staying positive, living life and dealing with the changes I will experience as they come.

“I am being well supported by my family, friends and medical professionals and I’m truly grateful to those who, in their time, helped progress research to support others, like me, living with this disease.

“Since retiring from the sport I love, and alongside my wife Annie, I’ve been able to dedicate much of the past 12 years to fundraising for The Lewis Moody Foundation in support of those affected by brain tumours.

“My plan is to continue with this but to also create an opportunity to support a charity closer to my current situation. I would be so grateful for your help with this and look forward to sharing more, once I am clear on what this looks like.

“For now, please know I feel your love and support; all I ask is that I am given some space to navigate this with my wife and sons, and those closest to us – but without doubt, I will continue to embrace life and grasp opportunities in the same way I always have.”

Moody underwent physiotherapy after noticing weakness in his shoulder while training in the gym. A series of scans then showed nerves in his brain and spinal cord had been damaged.

Sharing some news ❤️ pic.twitter.com/9YIMucQh6l

— Lewis Moody (@LewisMoody7) October 6, 2025

Moody’s fearless commitment and relentless approach to the game earned him the moniker ‘Mad Dog’, such was his willingness to put his body on the line for club and country.

He made 223 appearances for Leicester Tigers from 1996 to 2010, winning two European Cups and seven league titles, amongst other honours; breaking Neil Back’s appearances record for a flanker in the process. His first game as a teenager in August 1996 made him Leicester’s youngest player in a league match. Moody then joined Bath where he made 34 appearances from 2010 to 2012. He was awarded an MBE for services to rugby in 2004 after England’s Rugby World Cup victory.

Moody was instrumental in a golden era for Leicester and chief executive Andrea Pinchen said: “The figures, trophies and awards tell you what an incredible player Lewis was, but that is only half the story.

“As an individual, his commitment to his club along with his warmth and passion shone through, which endeared him to teammates, staff and supporters alike. Always looking to help others, Lewis together with Annie have worked tirelessly through the Lewis Moody Foundation, supporting research into brain tumours and helping affected families.”

After retiring in 2012, Moody moved into high performance coaching – first with elite athletes and more recently executive leaders, while also becoming an adventurer and major fundraiser alongside his wife Annie. They set up The Lewis Moody Foundation in 2014, which has raised more than £2m for research into brain tumours and providing support and care to children and adults affected by the biggest cancer killer for under 40s.

In 2022, a study found that former international rugby union players were 15 times more likely to suffer the devastating impact of MND.

The study, which has been published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, was led by Professor Willie Stewart, the neuropathologist who also proved football’s link to neurodegenerative disease.

Stewart stressed that the former players who had been studied had predominantly played in the era before professionalisation in 1995 and, with head impacts and injuries having further increased in the past 27 years, urged immediate measures to mitigate the risks.

He said: “I am genuinely really concerned about what’s happening in the modern game [and] whether in 20 years’ time, if we repeat the study, we may see something which is even more concerning.”