Zara Tindall’s friend and former England rugby captain Lewis Moody has announced that he has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Mr Moody, 47, confirmed his diagnosis on Monday, describing it as “a huge shock” to him and his family.
The former flanker, who helped England win the Rugby World Cup in 2003, said his symptoms so far have been limited to muscle weakness in his hand and shoulder.
Zara and her husband, former England player Mike Tindall, have known Mr Moody for many years through rugby.
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The families have been part of the same sporting circle since the early 2000s, and Mr Moody was among those who attended the couple’s wedding in 2011.
Zara, who remains a prominent supporter of rugby through her husband’s involvement with the sport, has not commented publicly on the announcement.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Mr Moody said he felt compelled to go public in the hope of raising awareness of the condition.
“I don’t feel ill. I don’t feel unwell,” he said.
Zara Tindall’s longtime friend Lewis Moody hailed for courage following MND diagnosis
|PA
“There’s something about looking the future in the face and not wanting to really process that at the minute.
“But there is absolutely a reluctance to look the future in the face for now.”
Mr Moody first noticed a problem with his shoulder during a gym session last year.
When physiotherapy failed to ease the issue, further tests led to the diagnosis.
Zara Tindall and Lewis Moody are known to be good pals
|PA
Motor neurone disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a rare and progressive condition that affects the brain and nerves.
It causes increasing muscle weakness and can impact movement, speech and breathing.
There is currently no cure, though treatment can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Mr Moody earned 71 caps for England between 2001 and 2011, captaining the national side in 2010 and 2011.
He also toured with the British and Irish Lions and won seven Premiership titles with Leicester Tigers.
After retiring from professional rugby in 2012, Mr Moody co-founded The Lewis Moody Foundation, which supports brain tumour research and provides help for affected families.
He said he plans to continue his charitable work and hopes to direct future efforts towards MND awareness.
The rugby community has shared widespread messages of support following his announcement.
Former teammates, clubs and organisations praised his openness and pledged to assist in raising awareness and funding for research.
Mr Moody’s diagnosis follows other high-profile cases in rugby, including that of Scottish international Doddie Weir, who died in 2022, and former Gloucester player Ed Slater, who was diagnosed in 2022.
Motor neurone disease affects around 5,000 people in the UK at any one time.
The condition’s progression and impact vary widely from person to person, with ongoing research focused on improving treatment and understanding its causes.