Ex-England ace Moody boosts Bermuda’s Championship chances

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Bermuda’s national rugby team have turned to World Cup winner Lewis Moody for inspiration ahead of their NACRA Caribbean Championship final against Guyana.

The ex-England flanker was on hand to lend some words of wisdom with Bermuda’s players at last night’s penultimate training session before Saturday’s clash at the National Sports Centre (NSC).

In a timely coincidence, Moody, who was part of England’s 2003 World Cup winning side, is visiting the Island where his wife has family and is also a former university friend of Bermuda player Tony Ward.

Having recently retired with a shoulder injury, Moody hopes to carve out a coaching career and was more than happy to take time out of his vacation to help with Bermuda’s final preparations.

“A friend of mine, Tony Ward, plays for the team and he asked if I could come down and watch them train and see if there is anything I can help with, although it looks like the guys have it all sewn up,” said Moody, who is no stranger to Bermuda, having married his wife Annie on the Island in 2006.

“It’s going to be a big game for them on the weekend against Guyana and I’ll certainly have a bit more of a vested interest now. There’s not much I can do, it’s a week before a game, and I just tried to add a few tips here and there. I don’t want to mess with coach’s best laid plans of a year.

“I’m just here to have a bit fun and I enjoyed seeing what the guys were doing (in training).”

Moody lifted two Heineken Cups and seven Premiership titles during a 14-year-spell with Leicester, before joining Bath in March 2010.

He was capped 71 times by England and played in two Tests on the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.

And while he has no regrets about his decorated career, he admits it’s been tough hanging up the boots as he had hoped to continue playing for a few more years.

“It’s been very tough but unfortunately my shoulder gave up on me,” he said. “I would have played on a bit longer but that was it, it was a natural death.

“I have no regrets whatsoever; I played in World Cup finals, won Heineken Cups and was very lucky to play in some awesome teams with some awesome players.”

Bermuda coach Lawrence Bird believes Moody’s winning mentality can rub off on his players who defend their Caribbean Championship title against Guyana, who they defeated in their own back yard 12 months ago.

“It’s great to have Lewis here and it’s been a real bonus. He’s been able to give some tips to our forwards and it’s been nice for lads to have him down and see him take an interest.”

Moody will be the guest speaker at the Bermuda Rugby Union annual dinner on Saturday June 30 at the Hamilton Princess, where he will be joined by sevens rugby legend Waisale Serevi.

Bermuda, the defending Caribbean Champions, take on Guyana at 4pm.

The winners will advance to the next stage of the 2015 World Cup qualifiers.

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