Nathan Charles diagnosed with motor neurone disease

Former Wallabies hooker Nathan Charles has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) at age 37. Charles, who represented Australia in four Test matches, described the recent diagnosis as “extremely challenging and overwhelming” and “quite cruel.”

Charles, who previously made history as the first professional contact sport athlete with cystic fibrosis, noted that he is already experiencing physical decline and is using mobility aids for daily tasks. He expressed the difficulty of facing a condition with no known cure that causes progressive muscle weakness and bodily deterioration.

In addition to his international rugby career, Charles played Super Rugby for the Western Force and Melbourne Rebels. Since retiring from professional play in 2018, he has held leadership roles including chief executive of Rugby WA. A GoFundMe page has been established to provide financial assistance.