George Wilson "Doddie" Weir (4 July 1970 – 26 November 2022) was a Scottish rugby union player who played as a lock. He made 61 international appearances for the Scotland national team and represented the British & Irish Lions. With the change to professional rugby, he was recruited to Newcastle Falcons playing 1997–2002 and he captained the club. He returned to the Borders in 2002 but retired from professional rugby in 2004. In 2016 he was diagnosed with motor neuron disease (MND). He became involved with campaigning and fundraising, setting up a foundation named "My Name'5 Doddie" which had raised £8 million for MND research by the time that he died from this condition. The Doddie Weir Cup is named after him. Early life Weir was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, the eldest of four children. He was the son of Nanny (Margaret, née Houston) and Jock Weir. From early childhood he was always affectionately known by the traditional Scottish nickname Doddie, rather than being called George. He was brought up on Cortleferry Farm, near the village of Stow in the Scottish Borders. He was brought up with horses and he competed at local gymkhanas along with his sister Kirsty. Later he went on to represent Scotland at national equestrian events. Once, at the Scottish Horse Trials, he competed against Princess Anne. Weir was educated at Fountainhall primary school and then at Daniel Stewart's and Melville College in Edinburgh from primary six onwards. He then studied at the Scottish Agricultural College from 1988 to 1991, gaining a Higher National Diploma. Rugby Union career Amateur career Weir started playing rugby for Stewart's Melville FP RFC. He was invited on a Scottish Schools tour of New Zealand in 1988. By 1989 he was playing for Melrose RFC in the Borders and was part of the team that won six Scottish club championships. Provincial and professional career Weir was selected for the Reds Trial side to play against the Blues Trial side on 4 January 1992. After the match, The Aberdeen Press and Journal wrote: No way, however, should the selectors revert to Doddie Weir for the boiler-room. The Melrose youngster's future must lie at No. 8. He is simply not heavy enough to tangle with the giant English locks. He moved to England in 1995 to join English Division Two side Newcastle Gosforth. The professional era was underway and Weir was now playing