3. Jonah Lomu – Nephrotic syndrome
He was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, a serious kidney disorder in 1995, and the disease had a significant impact on his playing career and wider life. By 2003 he was on dialysis and in 2004 underwent a kidney transplant. He then attempted a comeback but did not play international rugby again, and retired from professional rugby in 2007. He died unexpectedly on 18 November 2015 after suffering a heart attack associated with his kidney condition.
Rugby legend Jonah Lomu has died at age 40. Find out about nephrotic syndrome, the condition that Lomu lived with: https://t.co/nhkxZovgcK
— NHS (@NHSuk) November 18, 2015
4. Lewis Moody
Former England captain Moody was diagnosed with an inflammatory bowel disease called ulcerative colitis in 2005, but kept his condition secret while continuing to play top-level rugby. Now retired, he wants to raise awareness of the Crohn’s and Colitis UK charity which helps around 260,000 people in the UK with this type of disease.
Lewis Moody talks about managing his ulcerative colitis to the BBC http://t.co/fntOiXsCfV
— Crohn’s & Colitis UK (@CrohnsColitisUK) February 9, 2014