Former Australia hooker Charles diagnosed with motor neurone disease

FILE PHOTO: Australia Wallabies' Nathan Charles (L) scuffles with France's Frederic Michalak during final minutes of their second rugby union test match in Melbourne June 14, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Reed/File Photo

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Oct 1 : Former Australia hooker Nathan Charles, who overcame cystic fibrosis to compete in the professional contact sport, has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, with the 37-year-old describing the news as "extremely challenging and overwhelming".

Charles played for the Western Force and Melbourne Rebels and earned four caps for the Wallabies before retiring in 2018.

There is no cure for MND, a life-shortening disease in which muscles progressively weaken, stiffen and waste away, according to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

In an emotional interview with Australian rugby commentator and former Wallabies lock Justin Harrison on Stan Sport, Charles said his health had steadily deteriorated over recent months.

"Over the last seven or eight months, I've been going through some health challenges. But my health just kept declining.

"And then recently, in the last few weeks, I was actually diagnosed with motor neurone disease, which has been extremely challenging and overwhelming ...

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