Moody's SHOCKING Confession: "I'd Risk It ALL Again!"

Former England captain Lewis Moody, a man known for his ferocious commitment on the rugby pitch, has made a startlingly frank admission about his playing career. In a new BBC documentary, "Ben Youngs Investigates: How Safe Is Rugby?", Moody tells his former teammate that he was "very aware" of the risks involved in the sport, even as he was hurling himself into tackles week after week.

Moody's SHOCKING Confession: "I'd Risk It ALL Agai...

The documentary, which I expect will spark a lot of debate, sees Youngs delve into the serious questions surrounding player safety in rugby, particularly in light of the growing number of former players diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND). Moody, now 47 and himself battling MND, doesn't mince words. His response to Youngs' question about the risks is both sobering and remarkably stoic.

"I do think I was very aware of the risks rugby presented, when you go and smash yourself into another human being week in week out, day in day out," Moody confesses. He acknowledges the risks of injury and concussion, something any player at that level would be acutely aware of. But here's the kicker: "I was happy that the reward and the joy of playing the sport far outweighed any of those."

And then he adds, with the sort of unwavering conviction that defined his playing style: "I enjoyed what I did so much that I was prepared to put up with that, and I would do again. I loved it... I absolutely loved it." It's a sentiment that will resonate with many who've dedicated their lives to a physically demanding sport, but it also raises difficult questions about the price athletes are willing to pay.

Moody's diagnosis last year has placed him among a tragic roll call of rugby stars affected by MND, a devastating disease that progressively weakens muscles. The deaths of Rob Burrow, Doddie Weir, and Joost van der Westhuizen have brought the issue into sharp focus, and Ed Slater's early retirement due to MND further underscores the concern. While a definitive link between rugby and MND remains unproven – and that's a crucial point – the disproportionate impact on elite athletes can't be ignored.

The documentary, from what I understand, doesn't shy away from showing the brutal reality of the sport. Revisiting a match from Moody's career, viewers witness the sheer physical punishment he endured. A jarring blow to the head, a high tackle that leaves him motionless – these are not isolated incidents. They're part of the game, and Moody, like so many others, willingly accepted those risks. Whether that acceptance was fully informed, and whether the rewards truly outweighed the potential consequences, are questions "Ben Youngs Investigates" undoubtedly explores. It's a conversation rugby needs to have, and one that is only just beginning.