A former teammate of the late Newcastle Falcons player Doddie Weir has praised the rugby legend for campaigning for research into motor neurone disease (MND) as he prepares for a new challenge to raise money for the same cause.
At the end of his playing career, former Scotland captain Andy Nicol entered the BBC commentary booth, but left the corporation after 20 years last month - his last game being Scotland's defeat of Wales at Murrayfield.
This month Nicol will embark on an 88km challenge with his fellow 1988 Scotland schoolboys teammates to raise money for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, which was launched by Weir in 2017 to fund research into MND following his diagnosis with the disease which sadly killed him at the age of 52 in November last year.
Read more: Rugby great and ex-Newcastle Falcon Doddie Weir dies at age of 52
As well as funding research into MND, the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation provides grants to those who are living with the disease. In June last year, it was revealed that the charity had raised more than £8million for the cause.
Six foot six second row Doddie Weir won 61 caps for Scotland, and signed for Newcastle Falcons when the game went professional in 1995, winning the Premiership with them in the 1997-98 season.
The Doddie 88 challenge will involve a 65km cycle and 23km walk from the Scottish Borders to the statue of Doddie at Murrayfield over two days on March 16 and 17, arriving at the home of Scottish rugby the day before the final round of Six Nations matches sees Italy visiting Edinburgh.
In 1988 the Scottish schools' side that toured New Zealand included Nicol and Weir, and the 22 surviving members of this squad will take on the challenge.
Nicol, whose most famous of his 23 caps for Scotland was probably the Calcutta Cup win at Murrayfield in 2000, said: “Doddie was a force of nature when he was alive so we are duty bound to keep that legacy going now that he is no longer with us.
“His selfless approach to his diagnosis blew me away.
“It was never about Doddie, it was all about helping others, and he was furious that there had only been one drug developed over 20 years to help people cope with MND.
“I don’t think MND had a voice in 2016, Doddie changed that, and his strongest legacy is, not just the near £8 million raised, it is that MND now has a voice.”
Many other names familiar to those who follow Scottish rugby will take on the challenge with Nicol, including 1995 World Cup star Graham Shiel; full Scottish internationals Scott Nichol and Steve Brotherstone; and former Scotland, South Africa, and Fiji coach Richie Gray.
Nicol adds: “When you go through such an experience like we did, there is always a connection that binds us together.
“We had a 30-year reunion in 2018 and I saw some of the guys for the first time since we arrived back from tour and we picked up just like we were best mates seeing them every day.
“We have great memories.
“It was my first long-haul flight and I remember looking at Doddie and his long legs and thought there was no chance of him making it to NZ in one piece!
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“It will be incredible to reconnect with boys that I had an unbelievable experience with 35 years ago and to keep Doddie’s legacy going.
“Doddie was an inspiration when he was alive, and he remains so after his passing.
“He was a great player, a great man, and a great inspiration to millions.”
Gary Kenhard, captain of the 1988 tour, will lead the team again on the Doddie 88 Challenge.
He said: “It is fantastic that so many members of the ’88 squad have come together for Doddie.
“Teammates are travelling from France, Singapore, Gibraltar, Australia, and Canada, it’s incredible.
“I can fully understand why they are coming; it was a special tour, with special people, and at the centre of it all was the magnificent Doddie Weir.
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“I was proud to lead the lads back then and having Doddie as a teammate, made the tour an absolute pleasure.
“Doddie was the type of person who would run alongside you in your time of need.
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“Although we are not as fit as we once were, we are steadfastly determined to return Doddie’s support by putting in a shift which raises as much cash as possible for MND.”
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