Scotland great Doddie Weir awarded Helen Rollason Award
Doddie Weir was presented with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award
©Steve Haag
Scotland great Doddie Weir was recognised at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year after he was awarded the Helen Rollason award.
The 49-year-old played 61 times for Scotland between 1990 and 2000 and featured in three World Cups for the Dark Blues. He was also part of the Scotland team that went on to win the Five Nations in 1999, which is their last title win in the tournament till date.
Weir was also selected for the British and Irish Lions for the tour of South Africa in 1997.
Weir was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2016 following which he went on to launch his charity 'My Name’5 Doddie Foundation' to help people address the issue.
"Thank you very much for this most amazing award," he said. "It's lovely to have my family and the rugby boys here. This is the closest I've ever got to a trophy so it's very nice! What a great Christmas present this has been and to raise awareness of MND.
"From playing sport, I've got a bit of spirit and fight and my spirit is to find a cure for MND. My foundation has raised nearly £5m, the recognition and support has been staggering.
"Sport has taught me to enjoy myself because you don't know what's next so tonight will be pretty special."
The award was presented to Weir by the Princess Royal and in the process became the second second rugby player to win the award after former England full-back Alastair Hignell (2008).
Earlier this year, Weir was also awarded an OBE from the Queen for his services to the game and charity.
