To celebrate and mark his 50th birthday this Saturday 4 July, Scottish Rugby has inducted Doddie Weir into its Hall of Fame.
The 61-times capped Scotland international, a British & Irish Lion on their victorious 1997 tour to South Africa, enjoyed a stellar career with Melrose and Newcastle Falcons, winning domestic league titles with both clubs, displaying a larger-than-life personality and no less ability over the course of his playing career.
“I am truly honoured to be inducted into Scottish Rugby’s Hall of Fame. I owe so much to the game of rugby, and to our great rugby family in particular."
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) July 3, 2020
Doddie Weir has been inducted into Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame. Read the full story: https://t.co/kPuvUVoH9e pic.twitter.com/S8ubpwaVUY
A well-documented battle with motor neurone disease, which he confirmed in the summer of 2017, has generated tireless work to both raise money for vital research and increase awareness of the condition and its impact on sufferers and their families.
Since its inception in November 2017, the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation has raised over £5.8M and distributed funds to both MND research and awarded funding to people with the condition to help improve their quality of life.
"How many tries has big Al Kellock scored for Scotland" 🤔
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) July 3, 2020
Doddie Weir is one of our guests on this week's Official Scottish Rugby Podcast on the eve of his 50th birthday.
Listen to the full episode now 👇
On hearing of his award, Doddie said: “I am truly honoured to be inducted into Scottish Rugby’s Hall of Fame. I owe so much to the game of rugby, and to our great rugby family in particular.
“The support I received from players and supporters throughout my playing career and now in my current battle to find a cure for MND has been immense, and has given me the strength to keep fighting.
“Thank you so much for honouring me with this award – and on my 50th birthday too! What a great present!”
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LIST | 8 GREAT DODDIE WEIR MOMENTS: AN ABSOLUTE LEGEND
Doddie Weir was a giant in the world of Scottish rugby, in more ways than one.
Not only was Doddie a hugely key player to the Scottish national side in the 1990s but the 6’6 lock towered above opponents on a regular basis with commentator Bill McLaren describing Weir “On the charge like a mad giraffe.”
The 49-year-old was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2016.
The following year, he launched his charity, the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, which seeks to aid research into the disease and improve the lives of those with MND.
The former Melrose and Newcastle Falcons lock won 61 caps for Scotland.
Here are eight of our favourite Doddie moments from down the years:
1. Hard as nails
We will start off by heading back to 1999. The Scotland lock, was representing the Barbarians against Leicester Tigers at Twickenham, took a huge punch to the chin from rugby hard man Martin Johnson.
Of course, he didn’t go down!
2. His only Championship try
Weir scored just once in the Five Nations – this try against Ireland in the course of a powerful Scotland victory in Edinburgh in 1997 – and he beat four would-be Irish tacklers in doing so!
3. Premiership Champion
He moved to England in 1995 to join the Newcastle Falcons and was part of the Premiership winning side of 1997–98. A special season still spoken about by Falcons fans on a very regular basis.
4. Honours
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to rugby, to motor neurone disease research and to the community in the Scottish Borders
5. First class delivery
In 2017, Scotland welcomed back the legend to the pitch today to deliver the match ball for Scotland v New Zealand.