The ever-inspiring Doddie Weir launches the Dodcast, his new podcast series in association with RugbyPass
Doddie Weir’s inspiring campaign to raise awareness about motor neurone disease has an entertaining new string to its bow in 2020 – the launch of his new Dodcast podcast.
Hosted by Jill Douglas and supported by RugbyPass and Aberdeen Standard Investments, the debut episode of the Jim Hamilton-Tim Groves produced series discusses Weir’s career, his reaction to being diagnosed with MND and how he is living with the condition.
In the company of guest Kenny Logan, he also opens up about the emotion of walking on to the Murrayfield turf with his sons ahead of Scotland’s game against the All Blacks in November 2017.
Presenter Douglas said: “We are going to be doing a series of these because we thought it would be fun to share some memories, some of the great times Doddie had on the rugby field, stories about his life, his friends.
“But also just to share some of the experience since he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease which is coming up for three years since that diagnosis, Christmas 2016.”
(Continue reading below…)
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Just over three years on from the start of that difficult journey and the launch of the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, Weir provided listeners with an encouraging update about how he is currently coping with the disease. “It has been a bit of a journey. I have been very lucky,” he said about the challenges he faces in everyday living.
“Other patients with MND haven’t been so lucky because the average life expectancy for someone with MND is between one and three years so for me to be living three years after diagnosis, don’t know why, don’t know how. It has been been a bit of a frustrating journey in some ways but quite an unbelievable journey in a lot of other ways because the support and generosity we have received has been truly humbling.
“Sometimes I have to remember I have got MND and that is the biggest issue I have. When I go out and have a couple of beers I have got to remember that I’m not as able-bodied as I used to be so I have got to be aware and concentrating on where I am going.
Introducing the first Dodcast! A series of podcasts with Doddie and friends talking rugby, life and living with MND – candid as ever but with his trademark humourhttps://t.co/KAh1WKUNOZ
Spotify https://t.co/3Fq358TSPp— My Name'5 Doddie Foundation (@MNDoddie5) December 20, 2019
“I have just got to remember where I am. I am very fortunate that I can pretty much do everything… eating is well, speaking is well, drinking is well, still driving, still walking, still enjoying things so no complaints.”
The first podcast in the series was released in the lead-up to Christmas, with a second episode due in the coming weeks. Former Scotland international Hamilton, co-producer of the series, added: “He is interviewing doctors and people that have been affected by MND, but there is also a rugby element to it as well.
“As a player, he was a cult hero, the way that he played, his look, his personality. He is a guy that everyone loves and warms to. He is on the after-dinner circuit and he gives people so much time. That is what people love about him.
“He is going through this fight with MND. The big thing is they loved him before and what he is doing now to raise awareness with MND means they love him even more now and the respect, humility and strength of character he has shown in the face of this adversity is showcasing what he is as a human and what he is as a man.
“He has got a load of accolades recently. He was on sports personality of the year, down at Buckingham Palace. This series will be telling his story.”
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
37 Go to comments