When the Wales vs Scotland Guinness Six Nations match kicked off at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff yesterday afternoon, the ball travelled around 40 metres from Finn Russell’s boot … but in the preceding 48 hours or so, it spent more than 500 miles from Murrayfield in Edinburgh to the Welsh capital on the back of a bike in aid of a charity founded by Scottish rugby legend, Doddie Weir.
The former Scotland and British & Irish Lions lock forward revealed in 2017 that he has motor neurone disease.
Since then, he and his supporters have raised millions of pounds for research into the condition through the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation – 5 being the number the big man from Edinburgh wore on his back during his playing career.
As part of its fundraising activities, the charity began taking the Calcutta Cup match ball from Murrayfield to Twickenham, or vice versa, depending on which city was hosting the match.
However, with the trophy that Wales and Scotland compete for in their matches named the Doddie Weir Cup, this year the ride has been from Edinburgh to Glasgow, with the riders led by round-the-world record holder Mark Beaumont and former Scotland captain Rob Wainwright setting off from Murrayfield on Thursday morning and arriving in Cardiff earlier today.
Joining them for the journey was a 100-strong peloton cyclists, many wearing cycling kit in the charity’s signature yellow, blue and black tartan.
They included former rugby union players including former England players Martin Johnson and Mike Teague, Paul Volley – who played for England A and won the Heineken Cup with London Wasps and later played for London Scottish – and ex-Wales forward Colin Charvis.
Wainwright said: “We do it for extraordinary people like Doddie and [MND campaigner] Davy Zyw, but ultimately for all the other friends we have not met who suffer or will suffer from this awful disease.
“I’m thrilled that the Cycling Souters and all 20 teams are involved and doing an amazing job, both on the road and with their fundraising.
“We are only £4,000 short of beating our fundraising target of £250,000 – which could employ a PhD team on MND research and you never know, they could produce the breakthrough we’ve been waiting for!”
It was a key game for both sides, with Wales looking to put the disappointment of a heavy defeat to Ireland in Dublin behind them, while Scotland were aiming to build their championship challenge following their successful Calcutta Cup defence against England in Edinburgh last week, and a nail-biting encounter saw the hosts edge the match 20-17.
Here’s a round-up of some of the social media posts from the ride.
I don't think he wants to talk about it...
Ach, dinnae fret...
The Prevelo Alpha Three on the main feature image is 20".
£100 bonus.
To be fair if this is our usual revenant they've got form in rewriting history...
"At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them ... we have to because some numpty destroyed the roll of names"....
NEVER!!!
Looks like some Barton Hill residents don't want the Liverpool Neighbourhood or at least not Marsh Lane to be a no-through-road:...
"After a two-hour long meeting, the panel voted 9-2 to resolve that the majority of the panel supported the introduction of the charges but was ...
It's just easier to "negotiate" when both parties are much more similar in vulnerability, manoeuvrability, speed, width, etc. than those in motor...