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Doddie'5 Tartan Ted, where is Ted now? Main
After setting off from Murrayfield on Monday 1st October, #Doddie5TartanTed has been travelling around a number of rugby clubs in Scotland, with the end goal of making it to Cardiff in time for the Doddie Cup match on 3rd November, raising awareness for Doddie'5 Tartan and the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation along the way.
In our last blog Ted could be found with Edinburgh Accies Club President, Frank Spratt on Monday afternoon. That evening Ted went to Train with Edinburgh University RFC. Founded in 1857, the University was one of the eight founding members of the Scottish Rugby Union with its first ever match in December 1857. The club has a strong history of producing top class players including 55 Scottish, 12 Irish and 5 English internationals.
On Tuesday Ted spent the Morning with Edinburgh BATs, a socially inclusive rugby club based in north Edinburgh. Pupils from Flora Stevenson Primary, Stockbridge Primary & Trinity Academy were all involved in the training session.
In the evening Ted then trained with Glenrothes Rugby youth before heading further north in Fife. (Yes, a wee bit of a detour en-route to Cardiff)
Fife Clan community Coach and Howe Harlequins player Liana Mitchell then took over looking after Ted during his time with Howe of Fife RFC.
The Fife Clan are a Unified rugby team who welcome players with moderate learning difficulties or disabilities which mean they cannot take part in full contact rugby.
Howe of Fife RFC are based in Cupar, Fife, Scotland. The club was founded in 1921. The mens 1st XV currently play in national league division two. Their women's team, the Howe Harlequins, play in national league division one. The club also have a Veterans team (aged 35+) called Howe Knights.
On Thursday Evening Ted was lucky enough to meet a Scottish Rugby Legend, former Scotland and British & Irish Lions prop, David Rollo. David played for Scotland from 1959-1968 and was part of the 1962 lions tour. The voice of rugby, Bill McLaren witnessed Rollo's international debut, at the 1959 Calcutta Cup game.
That 1959 match, at which I shared the radio commentary was quite distinctive for the courage shown by the Fife farmer, David Rollo who was gaining his first cap out of the Howe of Fife club. Soon after the start David suffered a broken nose, but after a brief absence for repairs, he returned to play prop with undiminished fire. After that debut it hardly was surprising that David went on to gain 40 caps.
On Saturday it was time for Ted to travel with Howe of Fife to their away match against Preston Lodge, in Prestonpans, East Lothian. He has of course been travelling by all means of transport and thankfully managed to hitch a ride of a scooter en-route whilst in Dirleton, East Lothian. Even the local sheep were keen to get a picture while Ted was in town.
During the match, Preston Lodge team mascots Alexander & Zara took both the match ball and Ted on to the pitch.
Ted must have been a lucky charm for Preston Lodge as they came away with an impressive 71-13 win. After all the excitement of his first week of travelling Ted took a few days to relax but this morning Ted is currently en-route to Stewartry RFC in Castle Douglas.
Thank you to all of the clubs who have been involved in Ted's journey so far, keep sending in your photos and stories and let's get Doddie'5 Tartan Ted to Cardiff!
