Fans of his old clubs have chance to show support for their former flanker after shock of his MND diagnosis
Emotions are bound to run high at Welford Road on Saturday, and not just because Bath are in town to renew one of the great rivalries in English rugby.
Not even because Leicester’s round-four date with the reigning champions is a repeat of last season’s final, a little over four months ago, when Johann van Graan’s side resisted a fierce Tigers fightback at Twickenham to claim their first league title in 29 years.
The emotion for Leicester fans, in particular, will be generated by an appearance from Lewis Moody, the former England flanker, who revealed this month he has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Moody spent 14 seasons with the East Midlands club, amassing 223 appearances and scoring 32 tries. Perhaps it is less well remembered that he was a two-club man who finished his career at Bath, finally forced to retire due to injury in 2012.
The combative flanker won seven league titles and two European Cups with the Tigers, won the 2003 Rugby World Cup with England, captained his country and represented the British & Irish Lions. It will be a highly charged moment for all present when Moody appears.
