Outrage as Scottish Rugby Union bosses won't had over any cash to charity
Scots rugby legends have slammed the game’s bosses for refusing to hand over any of the gate receipts from a match in honour of Doddie Weir.
Scotland play Wales on 3 November for the Doddie Weir Cup but none of the estimated £1m proceeds from the 74,000 sell-out match will go to his foundation, My Name’5 Doddie.
Instead of handing over a donation, the SRU and Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) insisted the fixture will highlight the cause of his charity to millions of TV viewers.
Weir has motor neurone disease (MND) and has raised more than £500,000 through his foundation – carrying his famous number five in its name - which aims to find a cure for the condition.
Former Scotland player Iain Milne slammed the decision on social media.
He said: “Both Unions MUST agree a sum to go to Doddie’s charity before taking their agreed share of the gate. Rightly or wrongly supporters have presumed some money from the ticket price was going to MND.”
David Johnston, a former Scotland international centre, said: “Undoubtedly a lot of people will go to the match because it is associated with Doddie,” he said. “He’s a loyal and legendary player. It is the Doddie Weir Cup and yet the SRU is benefiting 100 per cent and Doddie is benefiting 0%. To me, that sounds a bit crass.”
The SRU said: “We have committed to help raise awareness for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation as one of our official charity partners and work with Doddie throughout the year across his activities and initiatives.
"Scottish Rugby has made significant contributions, in numerous ways, to the foundation and will continue to do so in support of his inspiring work to raise funds for MND research.”
Online commenbts have been scathing of the decision. One by June McDermott said: “If this is what the SRU means by giving the charity publicity it’s a crass way of doing it.”
And Don McLeod hit out: “Doddie has inspired the international rugby family, but not, it would seem the SRU or the WRU,who want to keep all the gate receipts from the upcoming game in their grubby little pockets.”
A statement from My Name’5 Doddie, read: “The foundation very much appreciates the support of Scottish Rugby, the WRU and the wider rugby community – all have stepped up since Doddie’s diagnosis.
“My Name’5 Doddie Foundation was launched almost a year ago at Murrayfield and the level of support has been incredible.”
