ONE of the most recognisable and likeable figures in sport is coming home to publicly launch his autobiography.

Next week the Baillie Gifford Borders Book Festival will host a special event in the Volunteer Hall - the public launch of Doddie Weir’s autobiography My Name’5 Doddie.

On Tuesday (November 6) evening Doddie and his co-author, Stewart Weir, will talk to Alistair Moffat from 7.30pm about a stellar rugby career, the characters and the games as well as Doddie’s astonishing battle with Motor Neurone Disease.

In a rugby career that had huge highs and shocking lows, the Borders farmer's son faced some of the greatest players in the game, from Jonny Wilkinson to Jonah Lomu, Brian O'Driscoll to Scott Quinnell and Martin Johnson to Joost van der Westhuizen as well as setting stadiums alight when "on the charge like a mad giraffe".

A giant in all respects, Doddie played 61 times for Scotland, making the number 5 jersey his own, and was a British Lion in the 1997 tour of South Africa.

And just as Doddie dealt with the raw physicality of rugby as a second row forward, he has also squared up to the even greater challenge of dealing with a diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease with a unique mixture of grit and geniality.

Alistair Moffat, who is himself a highly accomplished author as well as director of the Borders Book Festival, told us: "Doddie’s book is packed with wonderfully funny anecdotes from his life and career but perhaps most remarkably it shows the compassionate side of a game played with great aggression and commitment.

"Before Scotland played New Zealand last November 67,000 fans stood and cheered Doddie and his teenage sons to the rafters as they came on to present the match ball.

"They saluted a great and charismatic player with love and respect.

"Doddie was irresistible to watch – and he is positive, funny and charismatic company.

"His book is fluent, self-deprecating and is wonderfully well set off with a foreword from Jim Telfer."

Doddie's autobiography will be on sale at the venue, with a book signing after the event.

Tickets available from www.bordersbookfestival.org and Hub Tickets on 0131 473 2000.