'I knew the risks, I'd do it again' - Moody opens up in new BBC documentary
#Lewis Moody #Motor neurone disease #Rugby safety #BBC documentary #Concussion protocols #England rugby #MND awareness #Ben Youngs
📌 Key Takeaways
- Former England captain Lewis Moody acknowledges he was aware of rugby risks but would still play again
- Moody was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year, joining several other rugby players with the condition
- Moody explains there's no proven direct link between rugby and MND, though extreme exertion may be a factor
- Moody believes rugby is now safer due to improved concussion protocols but remains concerned for players with long-term health issues
📖 Full Retelling
Former England captain Lewis Moody reveals in a new BBC documentary 'Ben Youngs Investigates: How Safe Is Rugby?' that he was acutely aware of the risks posed during his rugby career, including potential injuries and concussions, while acknowledging he would still play the sport again despite his recent diagnosis with motor neurone disease. The 47-year-old former flanker, who earned 71 caps for England and won domestic and European titles with Leicester, famously known as 'Mad Dog' for his full-throttle commitment on the field, stated that 'the reward and the joy of playing the sport far outweighed' the dangers he faced during his career. Moody's candid admission comes after he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year, joining a concerning list of rugby players including league legend Rob Burrow (who died in June 2024), Scotland international Doddie Weir, former Springbok Joost van der Westhuizen, and former Leicester team-mate Ed Slater who also have or had the condition. While there is no proven direct link between rugby and MND, elite athletes in general are disproportionately affected by the degenerative muscle-wasting condition. Moody acknowledges that the public often makes the connection but explains that 'the only link and connection to MND and sport is around extreme exertion,' with multiple factors potentially contributing to the disease. Despite his diagnosis, Moody maintains a positive outlook, drawing on a Buddhist philosophy to help him 'simplify how life with MND continues' and expressing his intention to use his platform to raise awareness of the condition, following in the footsteps of Burrow, Weir, and Slater. The documentary also explores how rugby has evolved regarding player safety, with Moody noting that 'the game now is safer than it's ever been' due to stringent concussion protocols, including lowered tackle heights, independent matchday doctors, and high-tech monitoring of impacts.
🏷️ Themes
Rugby safety, Health risks in sports, Living with MND, Legacy in sports
📚 Related People & Topics
ALS
Rare neurodegenerative disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a rare, terminal neurodegenerative disease defined by the progressive loss of both upper and lower motor neurons that normally control voluntary muscle contraction. ALS is the most common of the...
Lewis Moody
British Lions & England international rugby union player (born 1978)
Lewis Walton Moody (born 12 June 1978 in Ascot) is an English retired rugby union player. He played for Leicester Tigers and Bath and was part of the 2003 World Cup winning side. Moody is known for the enthusiasm with which he played the game, his willingness to chase down opponents and his ability ...
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'I knew the risks, I'd do it again' - Moody opens up in new BBC documentary Published 2 hours ago Nine seconds of silence. After Ben Youngs asks whether Lewis Moody ever saw a risk to playing rugby, his former team-mate takes his time before beginning his answer. There is a lot to consider. Moody played alongside Youngs at the highest level. He won 71 caps for England. He toured with the British and Irish Lions. He won domestic and European titles as part of a notoriously hard-edged Leicester team. Through it all, Moody was famed for his full-throttle commitment. His disregard for pain and his endless appetite for collisions and close-quarters combat earned him the nickname 'Mad Dog'. In his playing days, the only risk Moody seemed to be concerned with was that some ounce of effort would be left unspent in pursuit of victory. Looking back, the 47-year-old says it wasn't that simple. "I do think I was very aware of the risks rugby presented, when you go and smash yourself into another human being week in week out, day in day out," Moody tells a new BBC documentary - Ben Youngs Investigates: How Safe Is Rugby? "I think I was acutely aware of the risks that come with injury and concussion, but I was happy that the reward and the joy of playing the sport far outweighed any of those. "I enjoyed what I did so much that I was prepared to put up with that, and I would do again. I loved it... I absolutely loved it." Last year, Moody was diagnosed with motor neurone disease - a degenerative muscle-wasting condition. Several rugby players have had the same news. Rugby league legend Rob Burrow died in June 2024. Scotland international Doddie Weir and former Springbok Joost van der Westhuizen also died with the condition. Ed Slater, whose career at Leicester overlapped with Moody's by a season, retired from playing in July 2022 after tests showed he too had MND. There is no proven link between rugby of either code and MND, though elite athletes in general are disproportionally a...
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