England’s Rugby World Cup-winning star Lewis Moody, who has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, received a hero’s welcome at Twickenham after completing a 500-mile charity cycling challenge ahead of the PREM Rugby final.

Moody – who starred for Leicester, England and the Lions – has channelled last year’s devastating diagnosis into a force for good. This week, alongside a host of former team-mates, he undertook a seven-day charity ride to raise awareness and funds for MND research. 

The Lewis Moody XV Challenge, which began in Newcastle on 14 June, visited all five of his former clubs, including Leicester Tigers and Bath, before reaching the home of England rugby on Saturday.

The likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Martin Johnson, Jason Robinson, Ben Youngs and Geordan Murphy, amongst others, all joined their friend along the emotional journey, which also included a stop at his former school, Oakham in Rutland, where a pitch has been named in his honour.

The final finishers marked the moment with trays of beer and champagne after pulling up outside the Rose and Poppy Gates just before midday on Saturday.

Moody later stepped on to the pitch to present the match ball ahead of the PREM Rugby final between Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs, which Northampton won 26-17.

The Lewis Moody XV Challenge, which began in Newcastle on 14 June, visited all five of his former clubs, including Leicester Tigers and Bath, before reaching the home of England rugby

Moody later stepped on to the pitch to present the match ball ahead of the PREM Rugby final between Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs, which Northampton won 26-17

His wife Annie and sons Dylan and Ethan were at the finishing line to share an emotional moment after the completion of the ride for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

After reaching Twickenham, Moody said: ‘Throughout this ride, we’ve met so many people living with motor neurone disease at different stages of progression, and for me and my family to see that is hard, but you have to front up to the reality of the disease, because it is a difficult disease.

‘But there is hope in this space now, because of the work Doddie did, because of the work Rob Burrow did, and because of the work I want to do, but hope is meaningless without action, and that’s why we’re here, and that’s why we need everybody from all walks of life to front up too.

‘I don’t want to be the person that everybody is here for – because of my diagnosis – but strange though it sounds, it is a privilege to be in this position.

‘We are here to raise as much money as possible to make as big a difference as possible and we’ll do that through My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.’

MND – which Moody was diagnosed with in September – is a rare neurological condition affecting the brain and spinal cord, and can impact a person’s ability to talk, walk and breathe.

Former Scotland and Lions lock Doddie Weir died in 2022, six years after his own diagnosis. Since its formation in 2017, his foundation has committed more than £23.5million towards research into effective treatments and a cure.

‘It’s meant the world to me to see the level of support we’ve had all along the route,’ Moody added.

The likes of Jonny Wilkinson (right), and former England captain Martin Johnson (left) joined their friend along the emotional journey

‘When you’re part of a team, it’s about standing up for each other, and whilst it’s a tough reason for us all to come together – my diagnosis – they’re desperate to help me, my family, and the Foundation get to where we need to.

‘It’s been a joy to come together with all my teammates – we don’t get to do it very often – and it’s been fantastic to all come together to try and help us tackle motor neurone disease.’

Earlier in the week, Moody described how he was left feeling a ‘little bit tired in general’ but ‘the body in terms of MND diangosis is coping with the ride’.

He said: ‘Each day we have a mix of different former players come and join us. So we’re always integrating new people into the group which is wonderful.

‘(And) the fatigue and the weakness that I have in my right arm is not stopping me to do anything, so I feel very lucky in that sense.’

After revealing his MND diagnosis in October 2025, Moody was inundated with messages of support from across the rugby world and beyond.

‘You just have to look at the guy doing the ride and that’s enough reason,’ said Wilkinson.

‘I played with Lewis, I have that connection with him, but that’s not it. It’s just this is an inspiring guy, he’s a leader, he’s a shining light.

‘He’s a man on a mission, and God knows what it involves in terms of his internal mission, but he’s on a mission to change the external as well for others.

‘He’s there to impact, to make a difference, a really, really, truly meaningful difference, and by doing what he’s doing, the way he’s doing it, it’s working. It really is.’