Former England captain Lewis Moody has confirmed that he suffers from the same illness that has forced Darren Fletcher to take an "extended break" from football.

Both sportsman have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a condition that causes inflammation to the bowel.

Revealing the problem in his recent autobiography, Moody admitted that the problem leaves him feeling "furious and depressed".

"I am resigned to taking a minimum of four tablets a day for the rest of my life," said Moody. "On bad days it is eight tablets. I have special permission under the laws of the game, a therapeutic use exemption, which allows me to take them.

"Everything I do now has to take into account my colitis. A few years ago I used to grow terribly nervous before making a speech or being interviewed in front of an audience. Experience and age enable me to handle it much better these days but I still need to go to the toilet on numerous occasions beforehand.

"I continue to watch my diet – no more curries, red meat (especially lamb), brown bread (surprisingly), caffeine and the protein shakes with creatine that I used religiously at Leicester to help bulk up. Even alcohol has to be taken in moderation."

Moody, who plays for Bath Rugby, is currently recovering from a shoulder injury.