Leeds Rhinos will pay tribute to MND Champion Doddie Weir OBE with a special limited edition kit for their Magic Weekend clash with Castleford Tigers on 3rd June at St James’ Park in Newcastle, the city where Weir won a Rugby Union Premiership.
Weir became a mentor for Rhinos legend Rob Burrow when Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in December 2019. In November 2022, Weir passed away just a week after setting off Kevin Sinfield on his epic Ultra 7 in 7 Challenge to raise money for the MND community.
Doddie Weir was one of Rugby Union’s most recognisable personalities. He earned 61 caps for Scotland during a successful playing career, represented the British and Irish Lions on their successful tour to South Africa in 1997, and won championships with his two club sides, Melrose and Newcastle Falcons.
In June 2017 the Scot revealed he was suffering from Motor Neurone Disease. From the outset, Doddie was driven to help fellow sufferers and seek ways to further research into this, as yet, incurable disease.
In November 2017, Doddie and his trustees launched the registered charity, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. To help continue Doddie’s legacy and to show our appreciation for the support he gave Rob Burrow, £10 from the sale of every replica shirt will be donated to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
The shirt design incorporates the distinctive Doddie Weir tartan and features the former British and Irish Lions details on the inside collar along with a quote from Rob Burrow on the reverse of the collar saying ‘Thanks for showing us the way’. Along both sleeves is a quote from Doddie that reads, ‘Whatever your situation, make the most you can of each and every day. Be nice to people, and laugh as much as possible.’
The replica kit is available to buy online, adult shirts are sized S to 6XL with Ladies shirts available in sizes 8-18, with prices for both frozen at £49.99 for the third season running. Junior shirts are £39.99 in sizes age 6 to 14 with toddler kits, age 0 to 4, priced at £39.99.
Adult and junior replica shorts are also available. Fans can order by clicking here. The shirt will be available in the club stores at Headingley from 2pm on Friday and at Friday night’s game as the Rhinos take on Salford Red Devils.
Doddie Weir named his dream team:
BACK-THREE:
Gavin Hastings (Scotland): “Consistently outstanding for both Scotland and the Lions. Helped me a lot when the game turned professional.”
Tony Stanger (Scotland): “Probably Scotland’s greatest ever finisher. He was key as we won the 1990 Grand Slam.”
Jonah Lomu (New Zealand): “He took the 1995 World Cup by storm. There were plenty of players who were six foot five and nearly nineteen stone, but none I knew who could run the 100m sprint in 11 seconds.”
CENTRE:
Alan Tait (Scotland): “He seemed to have the uncanny ability to always be in the right place at the right time. Then you realised that was because he was pushing opponents into areas where they had no space to work. He was also the tightest man in the world.”
Tana Umaga (New Zealand): “Scored twice against us. Like with Lomu, we really struggled to contain him.”