Friday, 07 March 2025
Fundraising, Other
Canterbury of New Zealand, together with My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and British & Irish Lions have launched a special training kit ahead of the 2025 Lions Tour to Australia.
This limited-edition, special range was created through a partnership between Canterbury, My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, and The British & Irish Lions (of whom the Foundation are a charity partner).
Designed in memory of Lion #670, the kit pays tribute to our founder, Doddie Weir OBE, who died from motor neuron disease (MND) in 2022 after living with the disease for six years.
Doddie won 61 caps for Scotland and was selected for the 1997 Lions Tour of South Africa.
A serious knee injury cut the 1997 tour short, but he praised the experience as one of the “best of his career”.
Doddie was diagnosed with MND in 2017 and set up his charity, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, to raise funds for research into a cure for MND and to provide grants to people living with the condition.
The dad-of- three, capped 61-times for Scotland during an illustrious rugby career with Scotland, the British & Irish Lions, Newcastle Falcons and his home town club Melrose, became one of the world’s most prominent MND campaigners during the last years of his life, helping galvanise efforts to develop treatments for the disease, as well as raising millions through My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
The range, featuring flag red and Doddie tartan range of jerseys, shorts, t-shirts, and fleeces, also features the British & Irish Lions' official Charity Trust logo, My Name'5 Doddie Foundation’s logo and official tartan, plus #670 detail - Doddie's British & Irish Lions cap number.
Lions fans can get their hands on the range to cheer on the team when they head out on tour in June, with sizes from XS - 6XL for adults and ages six - 14 for juniors.
Modelling the range on Canterbury’s website is David Dooher, a great supporter of the Foundation. In June 2023, David completed Britain’s Heaviest Hike, and set a new record, by successfully climbing Ben Nevis (the UK’s highest mountain) with 100kg on his back - raising awareness and over £25,000 for motor neuron disease research.
A portion of every sale from the range supports the Foundation, funding vital research and care.
Ahead of the kit launch, Scotland and Lions legend Gavin Hastings said: “My Name’5 Doddie Foundation is such a great cause, and the Lions were very close to Doddie’s heart. So, to see his tartan on this special Lions kit is brilliant.
“Doddie and the Foundation mean so much to the Lions community, having his Lions number, #670, on the shirt is a nice touch, one I know the fans of The Lions and Doddie will cherish.
“I think he’d be so proud to see his tartan on a shirt that meant so much to him, and he’d probably have a joke or two to make as well!”
Hastings was capped 61 times for Scotland, 20 of which as captain, and played in two memorable Lions tours, captaining the side and writing his name into the history books.
Simon Rowe, Senior Vice President of Sports Marketing at Pentland Brands, commented on the new kit and partnership: "The team at Canterbury are honoured to have been a part of the creation of this incredible range with My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. Doddie Weir epitomises what it means to be a Lion, showing incredible determination and courage, both on and off the pitch.
“Canterbury are proud partners of The British & Irish Lions and we are privileged to be launching this kit in his name, commemorating a giant of Lions and rugby history."
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