Family inspiration key to Weir return

Duncan Weir provokes a special kind of devotion from Scotland fans, but they’d be hard pressed to beat his own family.

Since the stand- off – surely the starter for Scotland against Italy in Florence on Sunday with Finn Russell and Adam Hastings absent – went down to Worcester, his wider family have turned he and wife Nicola’s home into a “hotel”.

“My whole family have been amazing,” said Weir.

“Our house is like a hotel with family members coming down to support home games. They’ve really made an effort to come down and be part of our lives and have strong relationships with our kids.

“About once a month my uncle Duncan takes the train from Broughty Ferry to Dundee, then to Edinburgh, then to Birmingham and finally Worcester. He comes in, says hello to the kids then walks the dogs to help out!” The move to Worcester has been a career changer for Weir, who was beloved by fans at Glasgow and Edinburgh when he played at home but left without a contract three years ago.

“In that first season at Worcester I felt that I was playing good rugby, and that I’d cemented myself in the team,” he said.

“My goal going into each weekend was to enjoy myself and on the back of that I was playing some good stuff.

“Maybe after a couple of games that was the moment when I realised this approach to playing worked for me: don’t worry about people’s opinion, or dwell on getting selection for Scotland or Worcester, just go and express myself.

“I’ve let the reins down a little bit the last couple of seasons and I feel I have played my best rugby on the back of that. Enjoying yourself is no bad thing.”

The lesson there, he admits, partly came from watching his friend and rival for the Scotland 10 jersey, Finn Russell. “In the early days at Glasgow, when Finn was coming through and eventually pushing me out the (starting) spot, I was always needing things done by the book,” he admitted.

“If I made a mistake I’d probably punish myself a wee bit too much and then I’d look at Finn and he’s so laid back h e’s almost horizontal.

“It’s a great trait to have and I’ve definitely learned a lot from Finn over the years. Personally, I think he’s one of the best 10s in the world so why wouldn’t you tap into that mindset?”

Weir had never given up hope of playing for Scotland again despite his first start being four years ago, but watching from afar was hard, he said.

“Any time there was a squad announcement, I would be watching for the phone to buzz,” he said.

“I was desperate to be there and be involved, so it was always hard to watch the squad appear on social media. “It is great to be back involved and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. I know Gregor (Townsend) knows how much it means to me to be involved.”

It meant that just two minutes on the pitch against France in the spring meant more to Weir than many could know.

“I probably didn’t cherish it before the same way,” he said.

“Those six minutes were one of my proudest moments in a Scotland jersey. It’s been a big journey between my last cap and this one but I’d do it all again if it meant I was pulling on the jersey with my family and friends in the stands again at a sold-out Murrayfield.”

But his best memory remains his last act for Scotland in Rome – the lastminute drop goal that won the game against Italy in 2014.

“I was very fortunate that I had a scrum-half in Chris Cusiter who had a bullet pass. It was an unbelievable day,” he said.

SCOTLAND RETURN: Duncan Weir described his family as “amazing” as he prepares for international comeback.