- Moody reflects on his glittering career with Leicester and England
- Flanker chats about the influence of his early years at the Tigers
As Lewis Moody enters his tenth year as an England international, the flanker reflects on a trophy laden career to date.
With 56 caps to his name, the Leicester Tigers star shows no sign of slowing down after being England’s stand-out performer in the autumn internationals and collecting the 2009 Investec Challenge man of the series award.
Moody talks exclusively to RFU TV about his formative years at Welford Road which helped produce his all-action style and led to 13 major trophies, crowned by the 2003 Rugby World Cup win with England.
"It was very scary going in as a 17-year-old and weighing 12-stone as a back row, they all thought I had got the wrong changing room when I turned up.
"But is was an amazing place, it taught me well. You learn from players like Johnno, Backy, Richard Cockerill, Graham Rountree and John Wells the amount of passion and intensity that is required to be a professional athlete at the highest level.
"They are one of the reasons why I have turned out how I am and play and train the way I do."
On the World Cup victory over Australia and Moody’s crucial role in the line out which preceded Jonny Wilkinson’s winning drop goal, he added: "I don’t actually go up in the line out that much so it was one of the few times I did – the boys enjoy reminding me about it – but it was a special occasion and something I’m hugely privileged to have been part of."