Former England rugby union captain Lewis Moody fought back tears during a deeply emotional interview about his motor neurone disease diagnosis with former teammate Ben Youngs. The 47-year-old World Cup winner, who announced his MND diagnosis in October, provided a raw and moving insight into his personal struggles and the uncertainties surrounding the condition.
Heartbreaking revelation and diagnosis journey
Moody discovered he had motor neurone disease after noticing weakness in his shoulder while training at the gym. Despite undergoing physiotherapy, the problem failed to improve, leading to scans that revealed damage to nerves in his brain and spinal cord. The diagnosis came as a devastating blow to the former flanker and his family.
Emotional interview with Ben Youngs
The interview was conducted as part of Youngs' BBC documentary 'Ben Youngs Investigates: How Safe Is Rugby?' which examines the potential link between concussion and long-term brain health in the sport. During their conversation, Moody described life since his diagnosis as "full of uncertainty" but also "full of unbelievable love and support."
When asked about his knowledge of MND before his diagnosis, Moody recalled watching fellow sportsman Rob Burrow's charity game. "My next memories of Rob are of him just being in the chair and completely constrained in his own body," he said. "I didn't know much about it, but I'm learning more because you have to."
Rugby risks and emotional reflections
The conversation turned particularly emotional as Moody discussed the risks associated with rugby. "I do think I was very aware of the risks that rugby presented, when you go and smash yourself into another human being week in week out," he stated.
Despite the potential connection between his condition and the sport, Moody expressed no regrets about his career. "I would do it again, I loved it. I have the life now, the peace, the happiness, the family, the existence, because of what I got to do for a living," he said before pausing to compose himself.
Uncertainty and hope for the future
Moody addressed the possible link between MND and rugby with characteristic honesty. "Like with everything in the MND world, there is only one certainty and that's everything is uncertain pretty much," he explained. "No-one's certain why it happens, no-one's certain about how to resolve it."
However, he expressed cautious optimism about medical progress. "The only certainty is that we're moving in the right direction and they feel like a cure is the wrong word, a symptom repression is round the corner at some stage."
Support and fundraising efforts
More than £200,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe page established by Moody's friends and former Leicester Tigers teammates Geordan Murphy and Leon Lloyd. The funds are intended to support the ex-flanker and his family during this challenging time.
Moody emphasized his commitment to using his platform for positive impact. "I'd really like to use my platform for as big of a positive impact that I can," he stated. "I've lived a life in retirement supporting others in that charitable world, I'm not going to stop doing it now."
Raw emotional moments
The interview concluded with particularly raw moments as both men struggled with their emotions. Moody stopped speaking mid-sentence, overwhelmed by the conversation, while Youngs was forced to remove himself from the shot, visibly wiping away tears as he looked into the distance.
The documentary featuring their conversation was released this week as part of broader investigations into rugby safety and long-term health implications for players. Moody's openness about his condition has brought renewed attention to motor neurone disease and its potential connections to contact sports.
