Lewis Moody, a member of England’s 2003 World Cup-winning team, recently attended his son’s match for the national team. This came shortly after he publicly disclosed his diagnosis of motor neurone disease (MND). Moody, who revealed the heartbreaking news in an interview less than a week ago, has acknowledged the severity of the condition, citing the untimely deaths of fellow rugby players Doddie Weir and Rob Burrow due to MND.
The 47-year-old ex-captain first noticed weakness in his shoulder during a gym session, leading to scans that revealed nerve damage in his brain and spinal cord caused by MND. Despite grappling with his own health challenges, Moody is supporting his son, Dylan, who recently signed a professional contract with Southampton and has already debuted for England at just 17 years old. Dylan played a role in England under-18s’ victory over France at St George’s Park, with Matthew Upson’s son Elijah and Emile Heskey’s son Reigan also featuring in the match.
Proud of his son’s performance, Moody Sr took to Instagram to express his admiration for Dylan’s goalkeeping skills. While Moody remains optimistic and aims to maintain a normal routine for as long as possible, he admits to feeling a sense of apprehension about the uncertainties that lie ahead with his condition. Despite experiencing minor symptoms like muscle wasting in his hand and shoulder, Moody acknowledges the emotional weight of confronting the future implications of MND but currently opts to focus on the present.