'They loved him for that': The Doddie Weir moment voted as Murrayfield Stadium's greatest
The moment was voted as Murrayfield Stadium’s greatest
It was a moment laced with pure emotion as the late Doddie Weir strode onto the grass at Murrayfield Stadium flanked by his children, just months after revealing his motor neurone disease diagnosis.
Now thousands of fans have voted for Weir’s emotional match ball walk as Murrayfield’s Greatest Moment.
Weir’s match ball delivery at Murrayfield in November 2017 has been voted the greatest moment in the stadium’s 100-year history, after thousands of fans took part in a nationwide poll.
The former Scotland rugby player walked on to the pitch wearing his trademark tartan suit flanked by his sons Hamish, Angus and Ben.
The 61-cap Scotland and British & Irish Lions forward died in November 2022 aged 52, after living with motor neurone disease (MND) for more than six years.
This moment was chosen as Scottish Gas Murrayfield’s most defining moment, taking 54.5 per cent of the vote.
It finished ahead of Scotland’s Grand Slam triumph over England in 1990, which received 42.8 per cent of the votes, and the record crowd of more than 130,000 who watched Scotland defeat Wales in 1975.
His widow, Kathy Weir, said: “Doddie had the honour of wearing the thistle at Murrayfield and winning 35 of his 61 caps there for the national team.
“He also played in the inaugural Rugby World Cup Sevens there in 1993, so Murrayfield will always be a truly special place for us.
“That was underlined, too, when Doddie had retired as a player. He loved mixing with people and leapt at the chance to meet folk and have a laugh as he hosted hospitality at the stadium for many years.
“To hear that supporters have described the match ball presentation he did with Hamish, Angus and Ben before the game against New Zealand in 2017 as their favourite memory in the stadium’s 100th year is incredibly humbling.”
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Weir represented Scotland between 1990 and 2000 and toured South Africa with the Lions in 1997.
His walk before a sell-out crowd of 67,000 carrying the match ball ahead of Scotland’s Test against New Zealand has since become one of the most powerful and unifying moments in Scottish sporting history.
Adding to the emotional walk, his three sons joined him walking side by side. His eldest son, Hamish, 24, said the result of the vote has reflected “how people felt in that moment”.
He said: “Rugby is a sport for everyone, and dad’s spirit shone far beyond the field. He connected with people on a human level, and they loved him for that.”
Angus, 23, said: “Working with dad’s charity, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, we continue to strive to support those battling MND and their families and friends who are confronted by the reality that there is currently no cure for the condition.
“When he brought the match ball on that day, it also marked the launch of the foundation, and we take great pride in what that moment began.”
Ben, 21, added: “Thanks to everyone who voted. I’m sure dad would be proud to know how that moment captured people’s hearts and celebrated what rugby is all about.”
The project is part of the Murrayfield Memories campaign, which marks the stadium’s centenary year by inviting supporters to share their stories, photographs and memories of a century of sport and spectacle.
Sir Ian, who coached Scotland to their Grand Slam victory over England on March 17, 1990 and played in the 1975 “record crowd” match against Wales, said the sight of Weir on the pitch that day “went far beyond sport – bigger than rugby itself”.
The match ball delivery marked the launch of Weir’s charity, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
The charity has since committed almost £20 million to MND research projects and is working to achieve Doddie’s legacy, a world free of MND.
Paul Thompson, director of fundraising at the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, said: “Doddie’s match ball delivery in 2017 wasn’t just a great Murrayfield moment – it was the start of something huge.
“That day he showed the world his trademark resilience and humour, turning the toughest of diagnoses into a mission to do something about it.
“It lit up Murrayfield and marked the beginning of a movement that inspired research, gave hope to people living with MND, and continues to drive us forward every single day.
“We’re grateful for the rugby community’s incredible support.”
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