England rugby great Moore suffers heart attack

The 55-year-old former hooker – capped 64 times and who also played five Tests for the British and Irish Lions – thanked the emergency services staff for saving his life.

"As this is starting to get out – I'm in ICU [Intensive Care Unit] of St George's [a hospital in London] having suffered a heart attack. Thanks to the professionals who saved my life," tweeted Moore.

Moore, a trained solicitor, was part of a highly effective if not crowd-pleasing England side that won the then Five Nations Grand Slam on three occasions and reached the 1991 World Cup Final losing 6-12 to Australia at Twickenham.

Moore, whose combative style on the pitch transformed seamlessly into a highly successful punditry career when he hung up his boots, was also part of the Lions team that beat the Wallabies 2-1 in a Test series in 1989.

Agence France-Presse