FORMER England captain and 2003 World Cup winner Lewis Moody has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

The 47-year-old told BBC Breakfast of his diagnosis today — two weeks after being given the news.

“There’s something about looking the future in the face and not wanting to really process that at the minute,” he said.

“It’s not that I don’t understand where it’s going. We understand that. But there is absolutely a reluctance to look the future in the face for now.”

Fellow rugby players Doddie Weir and Rob Burrow have died from the illness in recent years, with rugby — and in particular England skills coach Kevin Sinfield — embracing a high-profile fundraising campaign to tackle it.

A 2022 study from the University of Glasgow, published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, found that former international rugby players had around a 2.5 times higher risk of neurodegenerative disease compared to the rest of the population, with a 15 times higher risk of MND.

Led by consultant neuropathologist Prof Willie Stewart, experts compared health outcomes among 412 male, Scottish, former international rugby players and over 1,200 matched individuals from the general population.

Prof Stewart said at the time his study was published: “I am genuinely concerned about what is happening in the modern game, and that if, in 20 years’ time, we repeat this study we would see something even more concerning.

“Rugby has talked a lot and done a lot about head injury management and whether it can reduce head injury during [training]. Those conversations have gone on a while and the pace of progress is pretty slow.”

Other research has suggested that people who play football at a professional level also have an increased risk of neurodegenerative disease.

“You’re given this diagnosis of MND and we’re rightly quite emotional about it, but it’s so strange because I feel like nothing’s wrong,” Moody said.

“My symptoms are very minor. I have a bit of muscle wasting in the hand and the shoulder.

“I’m still capable of doing anything and everything. And hopefully that will continue for as long as is possible.”

Moody won 71 caps for England and also won five for the British and Irish Lions, while he was a seven-time title winner with Leicester.

He played in all seven matches as England won the 2003 World Cup in Australia and, in the final against the hosts, won the line-out which led to Jonny Wilkinson’s winning drop goal.

“We are all deeply saddened and distressed to learn that Lewis Moody has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease,” said Bill Sweeney, CEO of the Rugby Football Union.

“Lewis represented England, the British and Irish Lions and his clubs Leicester Tigers and Bath Rugby with both brilliance and distinction — one of the toughest and most fearless players ever to don a backrow shirt in the game, earning the respect and admiration of team-mates, opponents, and supporters alike all over the world.

“His contribution to rugby, both on and off the field, reflects the very best of our sport’s values.”

Moody ended his club career with Bath but will forever be more commonly associated with Leicester.

He made 223 appearances for the Tigers and won two European Cups alongside his domestic honours.

Dr Mike Rogers, director of research and innovation at MND Association, said: “Motor neurone disease is a progressive disease which affected the nerves taking messages to the muscles, leaving people trapped in a failing body.

“A number of high-profile sports people have shared their MND diagnosis in recent years.

“That, of course, leads people to ask whether there is a link between playing professional sports and developing MND. At the moment, there isn’t a definitive answer.

“A number of studies have recognised professional footballers and rugby players are more likely to develop MND but they don’t suggest playing football or rugby professionally, or any particular aspect of doing that, directly leads to a person developing MND.

“More research is needed to help us understand the causes of MND.”

Former team-mates Geordan Murphy and Leon Lloyd launched an online fundraiser today to help Moody and his family, passing £1,000 inside the first hour.