Motor Neurone Disease has, sadly, become a familiar name in rugby. Over the years, the sport has seen some of its most admired figures – Doddie Weir, Rob Burrow, Joost van der Westhuizen – face the illness with remarkable courage and humour. Now, with Lewis Moody recently announcing his own diagnosis, that sense of shock and sadness has returned to the rugby community once more.
I was lucky enough to meet Lewis briefly when I was about eleven, through a few years of muddy rugby camps. To a young player, he was everything you’d want an England flanker to be – fearless, upbeat, and completely unfazed by a bit of rain. One afternoon, we were watching Northampton take on Saracens, not long after Chris Ashton had made the move south. Eager to show off, I told Lewis with full confidence that Ashton’s famous swallow dive was “irresponsible” and not in the “spirit of the game.”
Lewis turned to me, smiled, and said, “Errr… I actually kind of like it.”
It was a small exchange, but it’s one that’s stuck with me. He had this way of being both competitive and laid-back at the same time – serious about the game, but never seeming to take it immensely seriously. That same attitude has always defined him, and it’s no surprise to see it shining through again now. In his statement, about his diagnosis he stated his sadness, but not for himself; for his family. Putting the team first, which is what also made him a fierce England captain.
The sport has evolved a great deal since those early days of muddy under-11 coaching sessions. Player welfare is taken more seriously, concussion awareness has improved, and campaigns like My Name’5 Doddie have made a lasting impact. There’s still a long way to go, but the direction feels right – driven by empathy rather than just protocol.
What’s most striking is how rugby always seems to pull together in times like these. Rivalries fade, and what’s left is a real sense of community – players, fans, and clubs united by respect and care for one another. It’s something unique to the sport, and it’s what makes stories like Lewis’s so powerful.
MND is a cruel opponent, but the way the rugby world continues to respond – with humour, support, and heart – shows the game at its best.
Because in rugby, as in life, it’s not just about how hard you tackle or how many games you win. It’s about how you face what comes next – with courage.
