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LEWIS MOODY MBE
Club: Leicester Tigers
Position: Flanker
Born: 12.06.78 | Ascot
Height: 1.93m (6' 4")
Weight: 103kg (16st 3lb)
Representative Honours: England U19 Colts, 18 Group, U21s, A
Caps: 53
Points: 45 – 9T
International Record: 2001 C(1,2), USA, I(R), R, SA(R) 2002 I(R), W, It, Arg, NZ, A, SA 2003 F, W, F, F(R) World Cup – G(R), SA, Sam(R), U, W, F(R), A(R) 2004 C, SA, A 2005 F, I, It, S, A, NZ, Sam 2006 W, It, S, F, I, NZ, Arg, SA(1R,2R) 2007 W(R) World Cup – USA, SA(R), Sam(R), Tg, A, F, SA 2008 W
British & Irish Lions: 2005 NZ (2,3) - 5 points – 1T
Lewis Moody MBE played in all seven of England’s Rugby World Cup matches in both the 2003 and 2007 tournaments.
But outside of World Cups his international career has been a stop-start affair due to a succession of injuries since making his debut in 2001.
An uncapped member of the England squad that went on the 1998 Tour of Hell to the Southern Hemisphere, he finally got his chance on the 2001 trip to North America, playing in both Tests against Canada.
A stress fracture of his right foot kept him out of action for much of 2004 but he returned to form and fitness in the autumn of that year, with tries against Canada and Australia. He played in four RBS 6 Nations matches in 2005 and appeared in the final two tests for the British Lions in New Zealand.
He became the first England player to be sent off in a Twickenham test, for fighting with Leicester team-mate, Samoa’s Alex Tuilagi, in the autumn of 2005 and, though banned for nine weeks, he returned to start all the RBS 6 Nations Championship matches in 2006.
In the autumn of 2006 he played in all four Investec Challenge matches but was ruled out of the 2007 Six Nations after shoulder surgery. He returned to the test arena as a replacement in the RWC warm-up match against Wales at Twickenham in August but missed starting against France the following week because of a calf tear, recovering in time for the tournament.
Having started the 2008 RBS 6 Nations as first choice open-side, a ruptured right Achilles tendon sustained in the opening match against Wales forced him to watch the remainder of the tournament from the sidelines. He had surgery in Sweden, as well as repairing a micro-fracture of his hip, and was not available for the New Zealand tour.
Just when he thought he’d put all his injury problems behind him, Moody broke his ankle and was ruled out of the entire 2009 RBS Six Nations campaign.
But he returned to action for Leicester three months later and came through the final day 73-3 rout of Bristol in the Guinness Premiership with no ill effects.
A former winner of the Zurich England Young Player of the Season award, he is now in his 14th season at Leicester Tigers and was awarded a testimonial last year.
He played mini rugby at Bracknell, was educated at Oakham School in Rutland, where he played centre, and represented England Colts, 18 Group, U21s and England A.
Did you know?
Coming off the bench to play in the final of the 2003 Rugby World Cup counts as Lewis’ finest moment in his rugby career. He won the crucial lineout that led to Jonny Wilkinson’s match-winning drop goal.
Nicknamed Crazy Horse for his love of high-adrenaline activities, Lewis does admit to being afraid of heights and spiders.
A notorious film buff, Lewis would cast Angelie Jolie as his favourite Bond Girl.
One of his most embarrassing moments outside of rugby was when, as a clumy waiter, he spilled wine over a bride at a wedding! |
