RUGBY legends are coming together to cycle more than 500 miles in just 48 hours in support the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, in the first year of the Doddie Cup without the Borders legend.

Stars of the game, including former Scotland captain Rob Wainwright and World Cup-winning ex-England captain Martin Johnson, will cycle 555 miles from from the Principality Stadium in Cardiff to BT Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh in time to deliver the match ball for the Six Nation's game between Wales and Scotland on February 11.

Riders in the Doddie Cup 555 Ride will leave Cardiff on Thursday, February 9 – after receiving the match ball from HRH The Princess Royal the day before at Gloucester Rugby – and will make the long journey to Murrayfield via rugby clubs along the route.

Rob Wainwright commented: "This year marks the fourth anniversary of the Doddie Weir Cup, and it’s particularly poignant as it’s the first since Doddie’s passing in November, but this only drives us forward to continue making progress and raising awareness of MND.

“We have to believe that a breakthrough in MND treatment is just round the corner and push ourselves and others to raise funds to realise that dream.

"We want you to be part of this too. While we ride from Cardiff, we will be encouraging the rugby family to ride locally and donate £1 per mile. You can even join Chris Hoy on Zwift rides. Doddie Aid has raised £1.5 million this year, let's get it to £2 million!"

Wainwright, who founded Doddie Aid and played with Weir for Scotland and the British and Irish Lions, is leading a team of 200 cyclists – including some famous faces – as part of the challenge.

The team is made up of international rugby players such as England back row Dean Ryan and former Scotland player Carl Hogg, as well as endurance cyclists like world record breaker mark Beaumont.

Some of Weir's teammates from the victorious 1997 Lions tour to South Africa will form their own team, including Paul Wallace, Jeremy Davidson, and Tim Stimpson.

Martin Johnson said: “Doddie was an inspiration to all of us, and the life and soul of one of the most important periods in our lives in South Africa in 1997. That spirit will be our motivation on this adventure. Jim Telfer famously described that tour as our Everest, but for those 48 hours, it will be the 555 miles to Edinburgh.

“Thank you to everyone who has shown their support – please keep backing us to continue Doddie’s legacy and help raise as much as we can for MND research.”

The Doddie Cup 555 Ride is the fourth instalment of the challenge, with organisers aiming to raise more than £500,000 for the foundation.

Money is also raised by the charity's many generous sponsors – some of whom have formed teams for the Doddie Cup 555 Ride.

The ride marks the final week of Doddie Aid 2023.

At the time of publication, the North and Mids, led by former Olympic Gold winning curler Eve Muirhead, topped the Doddie Aid leaderboard.

And not far behind, in second place is team The South, led by the Borders' own Stuart Hogg.

​Donations to the Doddie Cup 555 Ride can be made via: www.justgiving.com/campaign/DoddieCup555