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Ex-Scotland international Doddie Weir issues coronavirus plea to the UK government

By Josh Raisey
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Ex-Scotland international Doddie Weir has made a plea to UK Secretary of State Matt Hancock for motor neurone disease to be put on the very vulnerable persons list during the coronavirus pandemic. 

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The 49-year-old, who won 61 caps for his country and toured South Africa with the 1997 series-winning Lions, was diagnosed with MND in 2017 and has since raised awareness and huge sums of money for research through his foundation, My Name’5 Doddie. 

He has now issued an appeal on social media to the government, saying: “Would it be possible for you and your team to work with the MND Association and MND Scotland to change this? People with MND have a hard life in itself, never mind trying to fight the coronavirus.”

Weir also expressed his gratitude to Hancock for his work during the health crisis. He added: “I’d like to thank you, your team and all involved in the NHS and everyone else involved in trying to fight the coronavirus.”

The ex-Scottish forward, who was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2019, has shown immense passion and determination over the past few years in his charity work.

He recently launched a podcast highlighting his work, and his plea to government is another example of how he is raising awareness for MND in testing times. 

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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