Lewis Moody's wife makes heartbreaking promise as they share fears over future

08:36, Mon, Nov 2, 2026 Updated: 08:37, Mon, Nov 2, 2026

Lewis Moody has the full support of his beloved wife Annie (Image: BBC)

Lewis Moody's wife has promised to stick by his side as the ex-England rugby union captain battles motor neurone disease. The 48-year-old shared his heartbreaking diagnosis in October 2025. Moody, a seven-time Premiership winner who earned 71 caps for his country, first realised something was wrong early last year when he experienced weakness in his shoulder after training at the gym.

A series of scans and tests led to a specialist confirming he had MND. Several other prominent rugby stars across both codes have been diagnosed with the disease, including former England and Leeds Rhinos legend Rob Burrow, who passed away in June 2024 aged just 41.

One year on from his diagnosis, Moody notes that his symptoms remain concentrated in his upper body, with his strength diminished in his hands and shoulders.

The Rugby World Cup winner also experiences rapid drops in energy. However, discussing his partner of over 20 years, Annie, Moody has emotionally disclosed that he'll have her unwavering support throughout the fight.

Get tennis news, scores and tournament results plus selected offers and competitions

I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family.

You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info.

Make sure you don't miss the biggest sports news and strongest opinion by making the Daily Express one of your Google preferred sources.

"She said she'd be there no matter what," Moody told the High Performance podcast about his wife, with whom he shares two sons, Dylan and Ethan. He then opened up about informing his children of his diagnosis.

Moody said: "As soon as we found out, I said to Annie, 'I'm going to tell the boys as soon as we get back.' We probably talked about it in the car.

"It was a bit of a haze, as you can imagine. I just walked in and sat down and said, 'I've got something to tell you. It's not going to be easy to hear.' That was it.

Moody has been married to Annie for over two decades (Image: Getty)

"It's horrible telling your kids that, knowing that as a parent you've brought this disappointment and sadness. Telling your kids is hard. You don't ever want to feel like that. But as soon as you've told them, you can then move forward."

Despite fearing for the future, Moody admits he is at peace with his diagnosis and is keeping an admirably positive outlook. He said: "It doesn't mean you're going to die immediately.

"We can look into drugs, we can look into trials. Prior to that, you can't do anything because you don't know what's wrong. We just have a great time and are seeking to do that as often as possible. We will laugh, we will live, we will love. I choose to live a hopeful and positive life. I don't see the point in being any other way."