5 times Lewis Moody earned his 'Mad Dog' nickname

The former England captain took his leave aged 33 in 2012 with 71 caps and two Test appearances for the Lions, two World Cup final appearances and one winner's medal, two RBS Six Nations titles, seven Premiership triumphs, two Heineken Cup successes and one in the LV Cup.

But most of all he could take with him the acclaim of his peers for the commitment, courage and never-say-die spirit which coursed through him when playing for Leicester or Bath, England or the Lions.

Here's five times the flanker earned the nickname 'Mad Dog':

The insane fight between Alesana Tuliagi and Moody broke out after a mid-air tackle by Tuilagi on Mark Cueto. The ballsy England back-rower didn't back down from the HUGE Samoan.

As a result, Moody became the first England player to be sent off at Twickenham, and only the fourth to be dismissed in international rugby.

Moody was later suspended for nine weeks at a disciplinary hearing, while Tuilagi received six weeks for his part in the incident.

Moody's desire to impress on his return after injury in 2004 caused a flare-up with Tigers captain Martin Johnson in training last week.

"It was my first session and I was extra keen, trying to do everything and hit everything," Moody told The Sun.

"Tempers flared and 'Johnno' and I had a little coming together. He gave me a little dink and I gave him a little dink - but his hurt a lot more!

"It's just typical training ground stuff. You need that friendly rivalry."

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.

Symptoms can include diarrhoea, pain, anaemia, fatigue and sometimes inflammation of the joints, skin, liver and eyes.

Moody even moved house to be closer to the training ground because of his feelings of urgency, which are common to sufferers of both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Playing through that sort of pain is mad, but heroic.

To nobody...

You know it must hurt if Mad Dog is down...

Who needs eyes anyway?