Sir Chris Hoy will perform ceremonial duties at Scotland vs Ireland (Image: Getty)
Sir Chris Hoy will take centre stage at Murrayfield this Sunday, performing dual ceremonial duties ahead of Scotland’s clash with Ireland.
The six-time Olympic champion in track cycling will deliver the match ball and drive the Lead Legends car as Gregor Townsend’s team arrives at the stadium. The match ball that Hoy will present is being transported from Dublin by former Scotland captain Rob Wainwright.
In a statement confirming his role at the match, Scottish Rugby said: “Sir Chris Hoy will be back at Scottish Gas Murrayfield this Sunday delivering the match ball for the game against Ireland. He will also be driving the Lead the Legends car, brought to you by Arnold Clark, at the front of the Scotland team bus arrival.”
Hoy, widely regarded as Britain’s greatest-ever track cyclist, revealed last year that he had been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer. After announcing his diagnosis, he spoke candidly about the importance of staying active and challenging the notion that a terminal illness necessitates an immediate decline.
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“It’s about showing that you can live well, enjoy life, and still push yourself,” Hoy said in a recent interview. “I want to use my experience to help others see that a stage 4 diagnosis doesn’t mean you have to stop.”
Hoy’s reputation in Scottish sport is unparalleled. The Edinburgh-born rider dominated track cycling for over a decade, collecting 11 world titles and six Olympic gold medals.
He remains Britain’s joint-most successful Olympian, alongside Jason Kenny. In Beijing 2008, where he won three golds, he became the first Briton in 100 years to achieve such a feat at a single game.
Meanwhile, Hoy has continued to use his platform to raise awareness of the disease. Tour de 4 Ride is the latest in a long line of initiatives that underscore Hoy’s commitment to raising awareness and funding for cancer research.
As Scotland seek to maintain momentum in the Six Nations following their narrow win over Italy, the home crowd will have one of the nation’s most revered sporting icons leading the way before kick-off. Scotland vs Ireland is scheduled for a 3pm GMT kick-off time on Sunday.