Doddie Weir facts for kids

George Wilson "Doddie" Weir OBE (born 4 July 1970 – died 26 November 2022) was a famous Scottish rugby union player. He played as a lock, which is a position in rugby for tall, strong players who jump to catch the ball in lineouts. Doddie played 61 times for the Scottish national team and also represented the British & Irish Lions, a special team made up of the best players from the UK and Ireland.

When rugby became a professional sport, he joined Newcastle Falcons in England, playing there from 1997 to 2002 and even becoming captain. He later returned to Scotland. In 2016, Doddie was diagnosed with motor neuron disease (MND), a serious illness that affects the brain and nerves. He bravely started a charity called "My Name'5 Doddie" to raise money for MND research. By the time he passed away from the condition, his foundation had raised £8 million. The Doddie Weir Cup is a rugby trophy named in his honor.

Doddie Weir's Early Life

Doddie Weir was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on July 4, 1970. He was the oldest of four children. From a young age, everyone called him Doddie, which is a traditional Scottish nickname. He grew up on a farm called Cortleferry, near the village of Stow in the Scottish Borders.

Growing Up with Horses

Doddie loved horses from an early age. He often competed in local horse riding events called gymkhanas with his sister, Kirsty. He even represented Scotland in national horse riding competitions. Once, he competed against Princess Anne at the Scottish Horse Trials.

Doddie's Education

He went to Fountainhall primary school and then to Stewart's Melville College in Edinburgh. After school, he studied at the Scottish Agricultural College from 1988 to 1991. He earned a special diploma there.

Doddie Weir's Rugby Career

Doddie Weir's journey in rugby began when he was young. He became known for his tall height and skill on the field.

Starting in Amateur Rugby

Doddie started playing rugby for Stewart's Melville FP RFC. In 1988, he was chosen to go on a Scottish Schools tour to New Zealand. By 1989, he was playing for Melrose RFC in the Scottish Borders. His team was very successful, winning six Scottish club championships.

Playing Professionally

In 1995, Doddie moved to England to join Newcastle Gosforth. This was when rugby was becoming a professional sport, so Doddie was now a full-time player. The club changed its name to Newcastle Falcons and quickly moved up to the top league. The next season, in 1997–98, the Newcastle Falcons won their first ever Premiership title.

Captain of Newcastle Falcons

In August 2000, Doddie was chosen to be the captain of the Newcastle Falcons. He led the team to victory in the 2001 Anglo-Welsh Cup final. He played a total of 97 matches for the club.

Playing for the Barbarians

Doddie also played for the Barbarian F.C., a special invitational rugby team, six times. He first played for them in 1992 and was captain in his last game for them in 2002.

Returning to Scotland

In 2002, Doddie left Newcastle Falcons to join the newly formed Borders Rugby team in Scotland. He played for the Borders team until he retired from professional rugby in May 2004.

International Rugby for Scotland

Doddie Weir played for the Scottish national team many times. His first game for Scotland was on November 10, 1990, against Argentina. He quickly became a favorite player among the fans at Murrayfield Stadium.

Rugby World Cup Appearances

He played in the 1991 Rugby World Cup, where Scotland finished fourth. In the 1995 Rugby World Cup, he scored two tries against New Zealand in the quarter-finals. He is the only Scottish player to have scored two tries against New Zealand!

British & Irish Lions Tour

Doddie was chosen to be part of the British & Irish Lions team for their tour of South Africa in 1997. This is a huge honor for any rugby player. During the tour, he got a serious knee injury while playing.

Final Games for Scotland

As new, younger players came into the team, Doddie's time with the national side slowly ended. His last game for Scotland was in March 2000 against France. He played 61 games for Scotland in total, scoring 19 points.

Life After Rugby

After retiring from professional rugby in 2005, Doddie Weir settled down on a 300-acre farm called Bluecairn Farm, close to where he grew up.

Working and Public Speaking

He started working for Hutchinson Environmental Solutions, a waste management company. Doddie became the commercial director there. He also became a popular speaker at events, sharing his stories and experiences.

Television Appearances

Doddie was often seen on television, especially in his unique tartan suits. He worked as a rugby expert for the BBC, giving his thoughts during Scotland matches. He also commented on games at the Melrose Sevens tournament.

Illness and Campaigning for MND

In June 2017, Doddie Weir shared the sad news that he had been diagnosed with motor neuron disease (MND). This announcement happened on Global MND Awareness Day. Doctors had told him in December that he might not be able to walk within a year.

Starting "My Name'5 Doddie" Foundation

In August 2017, Doddie announced his plans to start a charity called "My Name'5 Doddie." The goal was to raise money for research to find a cure for MND and to help people living with the condition. In November, Doddie, along with his wife and three sons, walked the match ball onto the pitch at Murrayfield for a rugby game between Scotland and the All Blacks. Doddie felt lucky that he could be involved in campaigning and fundraising while still raising his family.

Raising Awareness and Funds

His autobiography, My Name's Doddie: The Autobiography, was published in October 2018. By October 2018, his charity had already raised over £1 million. By March 2019, the foundation had given out more than £2 million for MND research. A BBC TV documentary called Doddie Weir: One More Try was made about his journey and aired in December 2019.

Clinical Trials and Continued Efforts

In January 2020, Doddie announced that he was taking part in a clinical trial to find drugs that could slow down or stop MND. He encouraged others with MND to join the MND-Smart program. By June 2022, his foundation had raised an amazing £8 million for MND research.

In November 2022, for a match against the All Blacks, the Scotland rugby shirts featured the "My Name'5 Doddie" tartan. Doddie, who was now using a wheelchair, and his family helped deliver the match ball, just as he had done in 2017.

Doddie's Passing

On November 26, 2022, Doddie Weir's family announced that he had passed away from motor neuron disease at the age of 52. A memorial service was held for him in Melrose.

Doddie Weir's Personal Life

Doddie Weir married Kathy Huchinson in 1997. They had three sons together.

Doddie Weir's Tartan

In 2018, Doddie designed his own tartan with a Scottish clothing company. He did this to help raise money for his "My Name'5 Doddie" Foundation. The tartan includes colors from the rugby teams he played for: black and yellow for Melrose, and blue and white for Scotland. The black and white also represent his time with Newcastle Falcons. This tartan is officially registered in Scotland.

Doddie Weir's Honours and Awards

Doddie Weir received many awards for his contributions to rugby, his work for MND research, and his community efforts.

Order of the British Empire

In 2019, he was given the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award. He received this honor from Queen Elizabeth II at Holyrood Palace in July 2019.

Doddie Weir Cup

The Doddie Weir Cup is a special rugby trophy named after him. It is played between the Scotland and Wales national rugby teams. The first game for the cup was played in November 2018.

Other Recognitions

In November 2018, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh gave him the Edinburgh Award. This award recognized his great contributions to the city, to sports, and to raising awareness and research for MND. He also received the Award for Character at the World Rugby Awards. That same month, Glasgow Caledonian University gave him an honorary degree for his amazing work in sports and fundraising.

In December 2019, Doddie received the Helen Rollason Award at the annual BBC Sports Personality of the Year show. This award is given to someone who has shown outstanding achievement in the face of adversity. Princess Anne presented him with the award.

In July 2020, he was added to the Scottish Rugby hall of fame. A portrait of Doddie Weir by artist Gerard M. Burns was also added to the Scottish collection at the National Galleries of Scotland. In November 2021, Melrose Rugby made Doddie the honorary joint President of their club. In July 2022, he received another honorary degree from Abertay University.

See also

In Spanish: Doddie Weir para niños