EDINBURGH, Scotland—Doddie Weir, a former Scotland rugby player whose diagnosis with Lou Gehrig’s disease led to a campaign for more research into ALS, has died at the age of 52.
The Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) announced Weir’s death on Saturday.
The lock played 61 times for Scotland and was famed for his crunching tackles and thunderous carries. He was once described by a BBC commentator, Bill McLaren, as being “on the charge like a mad giraffe.”
Weir was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as motor neurone disease (MND), in December 2016. He used his profile to push for more funding and better research to be carried out into ALS and appealed for improved care to be given to those affected by it….