When the Wales vs Scotland Guinness Six Nations match kicked off at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff yesterday afternoon, the ball travelled around 40 metres from Finn Russell’s boot … but in the preceding 48 hours or so, it spent more than 500 miles from Murrayfield in Edinburgh to the Welsh capital on the back of a bike in aid of a charity founded by Scottish rugby legend, Doddie Weir.
The former Scotland and British & Irish Lions lock forward revealed in 2017 that he has motor neurone disease.
Since then, he and his supporters have raised millions of pounds for research into the condition through the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation – 5 being the number the big man from Edinburgh wore on his back during his playing career.
As part of its fundraising activities, the charity began taking the Calcutta Cup match ball from Murrayfield to Twickenham, or vice versa, depending on which city was hosting the match.
However, with the trophy that Wales and Scotland compete for in their matches named the Doddie Weir Cup, this year the ride has been from Edinburgh to Glasgow, with the riders led by round-the-world record holder Mark Beaumont and former Scotland captain Rob Wainwright setting off from Murrayfield on Thursday morning and arriving in Cardiff earlier today.
Joining them for the journey was a 100-strong peloton cyclists, many wearing cycling kit in the charity’s signature yellow, blue and black tartan.
They included former rugby union players including former England players Martin Johnson and Mike Teague, Paul Volley – who played for England A and won the Heineken Cup with London Wasps and later played for London Scottish – and ex-Wales forward Colin Charvis.
Wainwright said: “We do it for extraordinary people like Doddie and [MND campaigner] Davy Zyw, but ultimately for all the other friends we have not met who suffer or will suffer from this awful disease.
“I’m thrilled that the Cycling Souters and all 20 teams are involved and doing an amazing job, both on the road and with their fundraising.
“We are only £4,000 short of beating our fundraising target of £250,000 – which could employ a PhD team on MND research and you never know, they could produce the breakthrough we’ve been waiting for!”
It was a key game for both sides, with Wales looking to put the disappointment of a heavy defeat to Ireland in Dublin behind them, while Scotland were aiming to build their championship challenge following their successful Calcutta Cup defence against England in Edinburgh last week, and a nail-biting encounter saw the hosts edge the match 20-17.
Here’s a round-up of some of the social media posts from the ride.
Gosh - it was true all along....
That Cllr who talks about Lycra sensitivity etc - I wonder which party he represents? I could look him up but I can't be bothered to confirm my own...
The frustrating thing is all a judicial review can do is point out where they went wrong and ask them to retake the decision. Entrenched councils...
Yes, I wave and give the thumbs up but I just don't understand how you can write such a bloody essay on the subject! if a fellow rider acknowledges...
Nice try, but meteorologically, spring begins on 1st March, which is in just over 3 weeks! (Weather is more important than when the equinox might be).
Good find.
Shimano got it way wrong with the Sora thumb shifter and I'm glad they ditched it but Campagnolo got it right for me and I'll miss it. I loved...
Had it forced on me with the update today. It is rubbish on crowded narrow courses in just ride mode, like Dunoon, you can't actually ride around...
The leg injuries error is simply inadequate matching of cases to controls....
I think fatter lower pressure tyres absorb more.