NOTHING will ever match the outpouring of emotion that accompanied Doddie Weir's march onto the pitch at BT Murrayfield a year ago, but this weekend's match in Wales for the cup named in is honour could come close says Gregor Townsend, the Scotland head coach.

"It was special. We’re paying tribute now outside of Scotland and it’s great that the Welsh Rugby Union have agreed to this and that we will play in his name," he said. "To have a Doddie Weir Cup that will last forever is great. For our players to be involved in the first one is special."

Townsend played alongside Weir, who is fighting Motor Neurone Disease, during the 1990s and the current coach was quick to pay tribute to his old colleague and friend.

"He was a very, very good rugby player – people forget that because they see him as a larger than life, fun character," Townsend said. "He likes to talk down his rugby achievements.

"He was the first modern second-row player in the northern hemisphere, though. When I was at school and he was coming into the team, there was Ian Jones in New Zealand, changing the position from big lumps, who would scrum and maul, to players who could leap in the lineout but also play rugby. He was our Ian Jones.

"He played in some great Scotland teams but also won the Premiership with Newcastle. Doddie was first and foremost an excellent player, but also fun to be around.

"It’s great that he’s a Scottish rugby legend. We all know what happened a year ago - that game [against New Zealand] with how he handled himself, how the game was put together, what the players did when he walked out with his boys was a moment that transcended sport."