I met Rob Burrow after his MND diagnosis and watching Lewis Moody one thing struck me

It was only a few days after Rob Burrow had revealed his shock MND diagnosis to the world that the former Great Britain rugby ace and his loving wife Lyndsey welcomed me into their home. I must admit to being slightly starstruck by meeting in person the diminutive 5ft 5ins scrum half who I had watched in awe over the years as he battled against man mountain giants double his size from the relative safety of the terracing at Leeds Rhinos' famed Headingley ground.

But here he was warmly shaking my hand, asking if I had sugar in my coffee and did I want a biscuit - or maybe even two. Rob, whose only sign of the killer disease at that stage was the occasional change in his voice, was chatty, excitable and completely focused on ensuring whatever the future held - he would ensure Lindsey and their young family would be secure. It was January 2020 and the couple - childhood sweethearts since the age of 14 - had the previous year welcomed their third child, Jackson, into the world and it was instantly clear as we sat down to chat that they were completely devoted to one another.

They sat gripping hands throughout most of our morning spent together and their utter love for one another would become a defining factor in Rob's brave battle against the ravaging illness.

Watching former England captain Lewis Moody's reveal his own diagnosis with wife Annie at his side I was struck by the similar strength she was exuding as she carefully helped shepherd her husband through the clearly devastating revelation of his diagnosis.

Lewis struggled to hold back tears as he opened up on his diagnosis while Annie, who he married in 2006 - the same year Rob and Lindsey tied the knot - provided stoic support.

The 47-year-old said telling his mum and two teenage children was the "hardest part" since he learned of his diagnosis but I have no doubt Annie is at the forefront of his thoughts.

"It's never me that I feel sad for," he told BBC Sport. It's the sadness around having to tell my mum - as an only child - and the implications that has for her.'

Discussing how he broke the heartbreaking news to his two sons, 17-year-old Dylan and 15-year-old Ethan, he added: "It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do."

After Rob's diagnosis he said his immediate thought was also for others. "My first instinct was to see if Lindsey was OK. Most husbands would feel that. It was tougher on her. I thought, 'I'm glad I've got this and not her.' I'm not trying to portray myself as a hero, but a man would gladly take any pain from their wife and kids and give it to himself."

Over the next four years Lindsey Burrow was more than Rob's rock - she was a total tour de force - combining caring for her husband as his illness took grip, bringing up their two girls Macy, 12, Maya, eight, along with Jackson, now six, keeping the extended family network together, helping mastermind the phenomenal fundraising efforts and keeping on her own career as a highly-accomplished physiotherapist.

Watching the Moody interview I have no doubt Annie Moody will provide her husband with exactly the same level of support.

Rob and Lindsey had instantly dived into the full depths of what the disease would bring and at the earliest stage Rob was keen to fundraise to protect his family's future whilst using his profile to raise awareness of the condition for other sufferers. He also vowed to defy the two-year expected lifespan and succeeded, fighting until his body could finally take no more in June 2024.

Lewis in contrast admitted he cannot yet face the full implications of the muscle-wasting condition that killed Rob and their fellow rugby player Doddie Weir.

The sportsman, who was part of the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning side and lifted multiple English and European titles with Leicester, made his revelation two weeks after learning he has the disease.

"There's something about looking the future in the face and not wanting to really process that at the minute," he said.

"It's not that I don't understand where it's going. We understand that. But there is absolutely a reluctance to look the future in the face for now."

The father-of-three says instead he feels "at ease" as he concentrates on his immediate wellbeing, his family and making preparations for when the disease worsens.

He added: "Maybe that's shock or maybe I process things differently, and once I have the information, it's easier."

The star was diagnosed with MND after noticing some weakness in his shoulder while training in the gym.

After physiotherapy failed to improve the problem, a series of scans showed nerves in his brain and spinal cord had been damaged by MND.

He added: "You're given this diagnosis of MND and we're rightly quite emotional about it, but it's so strange because I feel like nothing's wrong. I don't feel ill. I don't feel unwell

"My symptoms are very minor. I have a bit of muscle wasting in the hand and the shoulder.

"I'm still capable of doing anything and everything. And hopefully that will continue for as long as is possible."