Research has shown Motor Neuron Disease linked to rugby – Page 3 of 3 – Ruck

#5. Tu’u Maori – Papa New Guinea (1988–2022)

The Papa New Guinea international died from motor neurone disease at his home in Ipswich, Queensland, on 3 January 2022, at the age of 33.

#6. Joost van der Westhuizan – South Africa (1971–2017)

In 2011, it was announced that van der Westhuizen had motor neurone disease. He eventually began using a wheelchair and experienced speech problems, yet still raised awareness of the disease through his charity, the J9 Foundation.