The annual Ireland Vs England Legends Charity Game will take place this year at the RDS on the eve of Ireland’s Guinness Six Nations curtain-raiser against England.
The event raises money for rugby related charities and has generated over €1,000,000 since it was first brought to life in 2009.
Two years ago 15,000 came to the RDS in memory of Anthony Foley.
The primary beneficiary of the 2019 match will be the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
In June 2017 former Scotland International and British and Irish Lion Doddie Weir was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.
He was in Dublin today to speak to media about the game, and the Foundation.
“I’m very humbled by this gesture,” he said. “I would have played with a lot of the guys who will be on show on the night and I will be very interested to see how they get on. Some of the lads might want to start warming up soon pretty soon.
“Life after rugby can present different challenges, but on occasions such as these, we have the opportunity to link back in, check on each other and have some fun while we’re doing it.”
“I hugely appreciate the effort that is being put into the game and wish all those taking part the very best of luck. It will do great things for those suffering with MND.
It is a crushing disease, one that gradually shuts down your body and which has a horrendously short life expectancy of only three years after diagnosis.
Weir is maintaining a positive outlook in the face of such diversity. The disease claimed Colm Murray, RTE’s popular sports reporter back in 2013 and is one for which there is no cure as yet.
The Foundation will be one of five charities to benefit from the Legends game. The others are the IRFU Charitable Trust, the Rugby Players Ireland Foundation, Restart Rugby and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Among those expected to line out on February 1st are former Irish internationals Gordon D’Arcy, Malcolm O’Kelly and Mick Galwey as well as World Cup winners Jason Leonard, Josh Lewsey and Mike Tindall.
Ireland Legends v England Legends will take place at the RDS on Friday 1st February at 7pm; tickets are currently available at Ticketmaster from €10.
