Continue
Bath flanker and former England captain Lewis Moody has today announced that he will be retiring from all rugby due to a series of injuries that have made it impossible for him to continue.
Moody ended his career as one of the most decorated players in Premiership history. Making his first appearance for Leicester Tigers in 1996, he went on to play at the club for 14 years, including 217 games and 32 tries before moving to his current club Bath Rugby in the summer of 2010.
"It is with great sadness that I have to announce my immediate retirement from all forms of rugby," Moody said in a statement. "I have been very privileged to have played in some incredible teams and with some phenomenal players.
"I owe a huge debt of gratitude to all the medics and physios who have put me back together time and time again to enable me to continue to play this wonderful sport of ours."
"Rugby has been my life for such a long time now, it is scary to imagine what it will be like without it," he said. "But I look forward to relishing the new opportunities and adventures that will come my way."
In his record-breaking career Moody won an incredible seven Premiership titles and one LV= Cup winners medal and there has been an immediate outpouring of tributes for the man affectionately known as Mad Dog.
“Lewis has been a credit to the league over his 14 years on the pitch and at Premiership Rugby we are sad to hear of his announcement,” said Premiership Rugby Chief Executive Mark McCafferty.
“It’s difficult to imagine a more committed player than Lewis, someone who represented club and country with dignity, passion and a never-say-die attitude. I think it is fair to say when Lewis Moody first stepped on the field for the Leicester Tigers they broke the mould.
“We won’t see him on the pitch again, but we hope that he will stay involved in Aviva Premiership Rugby in some capacity as we don’t want to lose him from the game, when we believe he still has so much to give.”
