The Prince and Princess of Wales paid tribute to the late rugby player Doddie Weir, calling him a hero for his athletics and his efforts to raise awareness for Motor Neurone Disease.
The iconic rugby player had a storied career, playing for the Scotland and British & Irish Lions, winning 61 caps for the Scottish National Team between 1990 and 2000, and playing in professional league rugby. The Scottish Rugby Union shared the news of his passing.
The royal couple shared a personal tweet from their Kensington Royal Twitter account on Saturday, writing: “Doddie Weir was a hero – we are so sad to hear of his passing. His immense talent on the pitch as well as his tireless efforts to raise awareness of MND were an inspiration. Our thoughts are with all those who loved him. He will be hugely missed across the entire rugby world. W&C”
William and Catherine are, respectively, the patrons of the Welsh Rugby Union and the English Rugby Union.
Weir was diagnosed with MND (also called ALS) in 2016 and became a tireless advocate for awareness of the condition. He formed the My Name’5 Johnny Foundation in 2017 to raise awareness, fund research, and provide support to those living with MND.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also tweeted: “Rest in peace Doddie Weir OBE. All my family’s thoughts are with Kathy and her sons.”
Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister, tweeted: “This is so terribly sad. Doddie was one of our nation’s sporting legends, but the brave way he responded to MND surpassed anything ever achieved on the rugby pitch.”
In a statement following his passing, Weir’s family said: “Doddie was an inspirational force of nature. His unending energy and drive and his strength of character powered him through his rugby and business careers and, we believe, enabled him to fight the effects of MND for so many years … It is difficult to put into words how much we will miss him.”
