Doddie Weir is an all-time rugby great, a Scottish icon, and an inspiration to so many.
In his playing days, Weir was capped 61 times by the Scotland national side, scoring 4 tries. Significantly 2 of those tries came in the quarter-final World Cup match against New Zealand in 1995.
Weir was a regular in front of the Murrayfield crowd during the 1990s and was awarded the inaugural ‘Famous Grouse Scotland Player of the Five Nations Award’.
A talismanic figure, the 6 foot 6 inch lock spent much of his club career at Newcastle Falcons where he won the 1997-98 Premiership title, and later the 2001 Anglo-Welsh cup. In 2002 Weir moved back to Scotland to join the Border Reivers where he played until his retirement.
In 2017 after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), Weir created a foundation named ‘My Name’5 Doddie’. The aim was to “raise funds for research into a cure for MND and to provide grants to people living with the condition”. By 2018 the foundation had raised over £1 million for those living with the condition, and by 2022 it has raised an incredible £8 million.
Prior to Scotland’s game against the All Blacks last weekend, on the 5th anniversary of the creation of the ‘My Name’5 Doddie’ foundation, a packed Murrayfield took to an emotional round of applause as Weir entered the great stadium once again.
In a Tweet by current Scotland player Jamie Richie, it is clear to see how much Doddie Weir has influenced so many people, both on and off the rugby field.
Rugby has given me some pretty special moments but I don’t think any will be more meaningful than this one. It was a privilege to share this moment with Doddie and his family, it’s something I will never forget. I do not have the words to describe how inspirational he is to us. pic.twitter.com/TsdB0kVHCm
— Jamie Ritchie (@Jamie_T_Ritchie) November 15, 2022
Sign In