Ugo Monye, the former English Rugby Union star and participant in the 2021 season of “Strictly Come Dancing,” has raised alarm among fans by revealing he is experiencing “the worst pain” and seeking help.

Taking to social media, the 40-year-old athlete urged fans to take care of themselves and shared his struggle with kidney stones, describing it as the most intense pain he has ever felt. In his Instagram post, Ugo emphasised the importance of staying hydrated, suggesting that insufficient fluid intake may have contributed to the aggravation of his condition.

Accompanied by emojis depicting vomiting, crying, and prayer hands, Ugo also used a question box to ask his followers if anyone else had experienced similar pain, describing it as a “Pain level 100.”

Kidney stones, mineral and salt formations ranging in size from a grain of salt to a golf ball, can cause excruciating pain. There are various types of kidney stones, including calcium stones, struvite stones, uric acid stones, and cystine stones. While some stones can pass naturally through the ureter, others may require medical intervention or surgery for removal.

This isn’t the first time Ugo Monye has faced health challenges. During his stint on “Strictly Come Dancing,” he had to miss a Saturday performance due to emergency back surgery. In October 2021, Ugo shared that his ongoing back problems, managed under medical guidance, had caused unforeseen issues, leading to the need for urgent surgery. Despite the setback, he returned to the dancefloor but was eliminated later that month alongside his dance partner Oti Mabuse.

The elimination of Ugo and Oti stirred controversy, with their exit raising concerns about the fairness of the competition, especially considering Rhys Stephenson consistently scored higher on the leaderboard but found himself in the bottom two alongside Ugo. The situation sparked a race-related debate at the time.