The Great Rugby Events

Doddie Weir is one of rugby’s most recognisable personalities. In June 2017 the Scot revealed he was suffering from motor neuron disease.

From the outset, Doddie has been driven to help fellow sufferers and seek ways to further research into this, as yet, incurable disease. In November 2017 Doddie and his Trustees launched the registered charity My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. Ex players and Rugby professionals under the guidance of Stuart Thom started The Great Rugby Cycle, which then formed into The Great Rugby Events, hosting and fundraising annual Cycling, Swimming, Running and Socials to raise money for the Doddie Weir Foundation.

Tom Smith earned 61 caps for Scotland and toured with the 1997 & 2001 British & Irish Lions playing in all 6 tests. Tom was regarded as one of the best looseheads in modern rugby, his final match in the blue jersey came, appropriately enough, against England in 2005.

Tom played 174 matches for Northampton Saints making his debut 1 September 2001. Over the subsequent eight seasons his appetite for the action never diminished and neither did his popularity with the Saints’ fans. His time at Franklin’s Gardens included two Powergen Cup finals, a Heineken Cup semi-final and three Heineken Cup quarter finals. He remained at Northampton until his retirement from playing in 2009.

Tom was diagnosed with stage four cancer in 2019, with tumours in his colon, brain and liver and sadly passed away in April 2022 aged 50.