The Doddie Weir match ball delivery is voted Greatest Murrayfield Moment
Doddie Weir’s emotional match ball delivery at Murrayfield in 2017 has been voted the greatest moment in the stadium’s 100-year history, after thousands of fans took part in a nationwide poll.
Article Source: Scottish Gas Murrayfield
Last Updated: 14 November 2025 11:24
Doddie Weir’s emotional match ball delivery captures nation’s imagination and voted Murrayfield’s Greatest Moment
The former Scotland lock’s walk onto the pitch – wearing his trademark tartan suit and flanked by his sons Hamish, Angus, and Ben – was chosen as Scottish Gas Murrayfield’s defining moment, taking 54.5% of the vote. The result was announced ahead of Scotland’s Autumn Test against Argentina on Sunday (November 16).
It finished ahead of Scotland’s iconic Grand Slam triumph over England in 1990 (42.8%) and the record crowd of more than 130,000 who watched Scotland defeat Wales in 1975.
The three moments were shortlisted by a panel of Scottish rugby icons – Sir Ian McGeechan, Chris Paterson, Mike Blair and Dee Bradbury – from hundreds of fan nominations submitted as part of the Murrayfield Memories campaign. The project marks the stadium’s centenary year by inviting supporters to share their stories, photographs and memories of a century of sport and spectacle.
Doddie’s appearance on November 18, 2017 came just months after the 61-cap Scotland and British & Irish Lions forward revealed his diagnosis with motor neuron disease (MND). He died in November 2022 after living with the condition for more than six years.
Weir, who represented Scotland between 1990 and 2000 and toured South Africa with the Lions in 1997, was one of the sport’s most beloved figures, celebrated as much for his humour and humanity as for his performances on the field.
His walk before a sell-out crowd of 67,000 – carrying the match ball ahead of Scotland’s Test against New Zealand, which the All Blacks narrowly won 22–17 – has since become one of the most powerful and unifying moments in Scottish sporting history.
Sir Ian McGeechan, who coached Scotland to their Grand Slam victory over England on 17 March 1990 and played in the 1975 ‘record crowd’ match against Wales, said the sight of Weir on the pitch that day “went far beyond sport – bigger than rugby itself.”
Former Scotland captain Mike Blair, who served as assistant coach during the 2017 Test, described it as ‘the most emotional moment I’ve ever experienced at Murrayfield’.
The match ball delivery also marked the launch of Weir’s charity, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, which has since committed almost £20 million to pioneering MND research projects with the aim of achieving Doddie’s legacy – a world free of MND.
His widow, Kathy Weir, said: “Doddie had the honour of wearing the thistle at Murrayfield and winning 35 of his 61 caps there for the national team. He also played in the inaugural Rugby World Cup Sevens there in 1993, so Murrayfield will always be a truly special place for us.
“That was underlined, too, when Doddie had retired as a player. He loved mixing with people and leapt at the chance to meet folk and have a right laugh as he hosted hospitality at the stadium for many years.
“To hear that supporters have described the match ball presentation he did with Hamish, Angus, and Ben before the game against New Zealand in 2017 as their favourite memory in the stadium’s 100th year is incredibly humbling.”
His eldest son Hamish, 24, said the result reflected ‘how people felt in that moment’.
He added: “Rugby is a sport for everyone, and Dad’s spirit shone far beyond the field. He connected with people on a human level, and they loved him for that.”
Angus, 23, said: “Working with dad’s charity, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, we continue to strive to support those battling MND and their families and friends who are confronted by the reality that there is currently no cure for the condition.
“When he brought the match ball on that day, it also marked the launch of the Foundation, and we take great pride in what that moment began.”
Youngest brother Ben, 21, said: “Thanks to everyone who voted. I’m sure Dad would be proud to know how that moment captured people’s hearts and celebrated what rugby is all about.”
Former Scotland captain John Barclay, who led the team that day, said he “underestimated just how powerful” the moment would be. He said: “Playing for Scotland is always a privilege. That day added something beyond anything I’d experienced before or after. You could sense the energy, the emotion, the connection between Doddie and everyone in that stadium. It’s my favourite memory of Murrayfield.”
Paul Thompson, Director of Fundraising at the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, said: “Doddie’s match ball delivery in 2017 wasn’t just a great Murrayfield moment – it was the start of something huge. That day, he showed the world his trademark resilience and humour, turning the toughest of diagnoses into a mission to do something about it.
“It lit up Murrayfield and marked the beginning of a movement that inspired research, gave hope to people living with MND, and continues to drive us forward every single day. We’re grateful for the rugby community’s incredible support.”
Graham Law, Scottish Rugby’s Head of Stakeholder Engagement, said the response to the Murrayfield Memories campaign had been “heart-warming.”
He said: “The incredible response shows just how much Scottish Gas Murrayfield means to people across Scotland. Yes, we are the home of Scottish Rugby, never more evocatively than Grand Slam games in 1925,1984 and 1990 and that world-record attendance in 1975.
“But what’s special about the winning moment is that it transcended the game itself. It reminded everyone that Murrayfield’s influence extends way beyond sport – it’s about community, compassion and a shared experience that touches an entire nation and the millions with Scottish heritage the world over.”
The 1975 Scotland v Wales Five Nations clash, played on March 1, attracted what was then a world record crowd, officially listed as 104,000, but reckoned by those who were there as more than 130,000. Scotland won 12–10 in a dramatic finish.
Fifteen years later, on 17 March 1990, Scotland defeated England 13–7 to seal their third and most recent Grand Slam – arguably Scotland’s greatest ever on-field achievement – a game remembered for massive moments including David Sole’s slow walkout and Tony Stanger’s decisive try.
Another contender that featured in the panel’s deliberations was Scotland’s 1984 Grand Slam, also on 17 March, which saw Scotland pip France 21-12, courtesy of a late Jim Calder try, Scotland’s second Grand Slam, coming 59 years after their first.
The Murrayfield Memories campaign celebrates a century of Scotland’s national stadium through the voices of fans who have filled it – from Grand Slam triumphs to concerts by the likes of David Bowie, Tina Turner, and Taylor Swift.
For more on Murrayfield Memories, visit scottishrugby.org/murrayfieldmemories
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The Doddie Weir match ball delivery is voted Greatest Murrayfield Moment
Doddie Weir’s emotional match ball delivery at Murrayfield in 2017 has been voted the greatest moment in the stadium’s 100-year history, after thousands of fans took part in a nationwide poll.
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