In a professional career that lasted 16 years, Lewis Moody became one of English rugby’s most decorated players. His career included Premiership titles, Heineken Cups, Six Nations Championships, a Grand Slam, and unforgettably, a Rugby World Cup, and captaincy of England. Now, with his highly distinguished playing career behind him, Moody is looking ahead to the future of rugby in England.

With his passion for rugby clearly evident, Moody is relishing the opportunity to return to grassroots rugby through Natwest RugbyForce: “The more that we can help our old clubs, the better. They are the breeding grounds of all our international players.

“This work is something that I really love because it’s where we all started and it’s where we need to give back. I think grassroots is key for all rugby players. Certainly players at any level that want to progress ultimately all have to start somewhere.”

Video credit: England Rugby

Moody talks fondly of his time at Bracknell Rugby Club in Berkshire, his first junior side, chiefly just playing with his friends: “I just enjoyed playing with my mates. I found something that I was good at, which I got to do with my mates, and that has stayed with me for the rest of my life.”

Having started his rugby life at Bracknell, Moody’s progress in the sport continued when he became a pupil at Oakham School in Rutland. He is acutely aware of the difficulties clubs and schools face in working together to develop future professionals: “Everyone wants more time with the kids so you have to figure out a really good way of making sure you can work together so the schools aren’t taking away from the community in terms of the club game, and vice versa. One of the hardest things for the clubs at a grassroots level is to retain players!”

Premiership sides like Leicester and Bath, both of whom Moody represented during his career, have an integral role to play in engaging young people with rugby: “I think all professional clubs these days have a community arm and I think they take their roles very seriously, whether it’s coaching, engagement, or other areas.

“Rugby is growing so massively, even in the few years since I’ve been retired. The money that has come into it and the awareness that people have of it has grown, which can only be a good thing because of the values that rugby has at its core.”

Following his retirement from the sport in 2012, Moody has thoroughly enjoyed his involvement with his local club, Bradford-on-Avon (just outside of Bath): “I have been involved behind the scenes there in terms of the committee and the clubhouse; I know all the challenges that these clubs face. If there’s just one piece of useful information that we can get across to a rugby club to help them in some small way, then I feel that we will have done our job.”

Of course clubs and organisations can only do so much – the most important thing for a player to have is a love for the game if they want to play professionally: “Any young player that is aspiring to be a professional rugby player or future international must first of all enjoy the game, and enjoy what you do; it’s paramount!”

He also suggests that young players should have a go at a variety of positions, something that he has experience of from the early days of his own career: “I was a centre until I was 17, a year before I played my first professional match for Leicester in the back row. It will broaden your skill set and range of abilities, as well as your knowledge of the game. Never be nervous about trying a new position!”

As England celebrate their first Six Nations Grand Slam since 2003, Moody is well placed to pass comment on the current crop after being part of that 2003 side. And he has been impressed by how the current squad have bounced back after a disappointing World Cup: “It’s a huge achievement. I’ve got a lot of admiration for the players and the way that they’ve bounced back. It shows you how funny sport is, doesn’t it? They’ve got to maintain that level of performance over the next three years prior to the next World Cup.”

For now, though, Moody’s interests lie at grassroots level, ensuring that club rugby continues to play an important role in communities up and down the country, as well as developing international stars of the future.

By Sophie Freestone

Lewis Moody is a NatWest RugbyForce 2016 Legend, bringing his playing and business experience to help grassroots clubs attract members and become more sustainable. To register for a chance to have Lewis join your rugby club’s board visit www.englandrugby.com/natwestrugbyForce