Lewis inspired me.. now I'll support him

Current skipper Itoje stands with former captain after MND diagnosis

- BY ADAM HATHAWAY

ENGLAND skipper Maro Itoje revealed Lewis Moody was an inspiration for him to play rugby in the wake of the World Cup hero's tragic MND diagnosis.

Itoje was a nine-year-old when Moody and the Red Roses lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in 2003. But that group of stars - headed by captain Martin Johnson and talisman Jonny Wilkinson ~ got him interested in the game.

Moody, 47, went on to play for England until 2011, captaining them at that year’s World Cup in New Zealand, before retiring from rugby a year later with 71 caps.

The former flanker went public on Monday with news of his condition and past teammates and other high-profile players immediately rallied to his side.