Doddie smiles in face of adversity OVAL FFICE

in 1997-98 with the Falcons, he is taking delivery of the jersey his old club will wear – complete with his charity logo – when they face Northampton at St James’ Park on March 24. The proceeds from sales of the iconic black-and-white striped jersey will go to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

“It’s quite surreal to see my name on the shirt. Newcastle is my second home so to see the football club and the rugby club getting together like this is just phenomenal,” said Weir.

“The support’s been overwhelming and this is another example. It’s difficult to take. I’m just a numpty fashion disaster from Scotland.” The foundation aims to raise money to support his

own family – he is married with three children – and to pull together the strands of MND research to try to deliver a unified global approach.

“A drug came out 22 years ago, which is all people with MND have, and it hasn’t been updated since. That to me is horrendous,” he said.

“It is such a debilitating disease. Every muscle in your body shuts down eventually so you can’t do anything for yourself. You can’t walk, talk, you can’t breathe for yourself. It is horrific. In this day and age people should have ideas and options.” Weir, who was recently flown to New York by former Sale owner Brian Kennedy to check out new approaches to the condition, has become the lightning rod for the fund-raising fight. Former team-mates and adversaries have taken part in walks and dinners, so too the Borders farming community, and the Six Nations has seen the launch of Doddie Gump, an online exercise challenge. “The support drives me on. It has been staggering,” he said. “I do the easy bit. I’m just not very well.” At Murrayfield, where he brought out the match ball and brought the house down before the All Blacks game in November, Weir will throw his support behind Scotland. He never beat England as a player and would love to see a shock result on Saturday.

“There’s not many weaknesses in the England team but maybe Scotland can get to Dylan Hartley and see if he loses the plot a bit,” he said.

“It’s David versus Goliath. Scotland aren’t favourites but I fancy them with the crowd. It’ll be close but with a bit of luck – and maybe the help from the TMO that Wales didn’t get – we can squeeze home 21-18.”

If Scotland pull it off, MND or not, he will be leading the celebrations. If they lose, he won’t be moping. This is Doddie Weir we’re talking about, after all.

“Save for a rainy day and sometimes you don’t get the chance to spend it,” he said. “Get up, get on and enjoy.”

The support is staggering, I do easy bit, I’m unwell