5 Rugby Players Who Battled With Physical Disabilities While Playing

Some of these world-class stars, however, have had serious medical conditions, yet they have stepped foot on the pitch and have delivered a performance like none other.

Here are 5 rugby stars who have played with some of the most serious medical conditions.

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.

McKinley was forced into early retirement in 2011 after he lost the sight in his left eye as a result of an accident during an All-Ireland League game for UCD against Lansdowne in 2010. He made his way back into international contention by working his way up through the lower leagues with Leonorso Rugby in Italy. He made his bow for the Azzurri in 2017 and has won eight caps to date.

Slade signed his first professional contract with Exeter Chiefs at the age of 18, the same year in which he also developed type 1 diabetes. Fortunately for Slade, he was told his rugby career would not be jeopardised, providing he was able to control his condition.

The former Bath and Wallabies hooker has a genetic disease, cystic fibrosis, that limits life expectancy to 38 years. He is the only athlete with the condition in the world who is playing a professional contact sport. He has defied the odds every day of his 30 years.

Lomu 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.