Doddie’s charity WILL get six-figure sum
WALeS and Scotland performed a drastic U-turn last night, revealing they will send a six-figure sum to Doddie Weir’s charity following the match in his honour in Cardiff on Saturday after public pressure forced the move. It emerged over the weekend that not a penny from the £3million raised by the game would go to the former Scotland and Lions lock’s foundation to fund research into motor neurone disease. but in the face of a publicrelations storm — with some saying the match had been marketed on false pretences — the WrU and SrU decided late last night to send a joint oneoff sum to the My name’5 Doddie Foundation. A WrU spokesperson said: ‘We have listened to supporters and, whilst our initial motivation in supporting the My name’5 Doddie Foundation was to help raise awareness for the fight against MnD, we have decided to make a direct donation.’ Weir, 48, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2017 and the teams will play for the ‘Doddie Weir Cup’. In the eyes of both unions the match, played outside the agreed international window, is not a charity fixture, but a vital autumn test — for performance and financial reasons. the SrU originally defended its position not to send a proportion of the £1m it would make from the game to the charity, but has now changed its mind. ‘We have listened to the feedback from the rugby family and have partnered with the WrU in a commitment to guarantee the foundation receives a six-figure donation,’ said the SrU. Scott hastings, chairman of trustees for the My name’5 Doddie Foundation, said: ‘We would like to thank the Unions for this significant and very welcome decision which will add even more to the financial benefits we are grateful to be receiving from this weekend.’