Former England rugby star Phil Vickery was moved to tears as he spoke about his ex-international teammate Lewis Moody’s heartbreaking Motor Neurone Disease (MND) diagnosis.
Moody, who earned 71 caps for England and was a key player in their 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning team, revealed the diagnosis on Monday, admitting that it had come as a “huge shock” to him and his family. In a statement, the 47-year-old former Leicester Tigers flanker admitted that coming to terms with the news has been “incredibly hard”. However, he vowed to “continue to embrace life” with the support of his loved ones.
MND, also known as ALS, is a neurological disorder that impacts motor nerves in the brain and spinal cord. This leads to muscle weakness, stiffness and paralysis as the disease advances, affecting an individual’s ability to walk, talk, breathe and swallow.
While treatment can slow the progression of the disease, there is currently no cure. According to the MND Association, one-third of those diagnosed die within a year, and over half pass away within two years. Tragically, the disease has claimed the lives of former Scotland and British and Irish Lions star Doddie Weir and rugby league legend Rob Burrow in recent years.
Vickery, who shared in the World Cup triumph with Moody in 2003, was visibly emotional as he paid tribute to his former teammate on the latest episode of the Stick to Rugby podcast.
“You just can’t describe it, really,” he said. “I think we’re all ultra sensitive as well, in rugby, with [ex-Leicester Tigers and Gloucester forward], Ed Slater, Doddie, Rob Burrow and [late England international] Paul Rendall. When I spoke to him last week and he told me, I just couldn’t believe it.
“The frustation of it always is, particularly for Lewis, I can honestly say I don’t know another kinder, generous, honest, loving human being than that. Why, why, why him?”
Vickery was joined by ex-Wales internationals Scott Quinnell and Tom Shanklin, with the former saying: “The thing is, with Lewis, we know that he won’t be thinking about himself. He’ll be thinking about his family won’t he? And his friends, he’s that type of guy.”
“If anybody’s going to fight it,” Quinnell continued. “We saw with Rob and Doddie, I’ve never seen anybody fight it like those two, and he’s going to be exactly the same. Our thoughts and love are with them all.”
Shanklin added: “Nobody is braver than that boy, let me tell you. The support around him will be absolutely huge,” before asking Vickery to share his favourite memory of Moody.
“I can’t think of particularly one memory,” said Vickery as he began to choke up. “Because he’s such a bloody donut. I suppose for me, I go back to 2007, the Rugby World Cup in Marseille and he led the team because it was his 50th cap…”
The former England tighthead was then overcome with emotion as his voice trembled and he wiped away tears, saying: “I said I wouldn’t f***ing cry. I thought I was all cried out.”
Reaching out from the back seat to comfort Vickery, Quinnell put his hand on his co-host’s shoulder and said: “It’s alright, it’s alright to cry, my friend.”
As he fought to carry on, Vickery said: “He’s just such a brave person, one of those people that would do anything for his team. Everyone loves him, he’s a good boy.
“He said to me, because he’s caught it so early – which is amazing – he doesn’t feel any different. He’s trying to process it all with his family, but he doesn’t feel any different. He’s in a really good space as far as where he’s at at the moment, he knows how much he’s loved, he knows that support will be there for him and we just need to make sure that we are there, which we will be, for Annie and the boys and his family.
“So, just keep being positive about it,” he added. “Keep hoping the girls and boys who are researching are moving forward and making breakthroughs, because of all the great work everyone’s doing so far in fundraising. We just have to keep pushing that forward and just be there.
“You know what, boys? You think we’ve got our own little problems and we’re all fighting our own little battles and stuff, but it kind of puts everything into perspective. But we’re lucky, we’re part of an awesome game, a brilliant game and we will all dig in, I know we will.”