Some matches resonate beyond the scoreboard, and Saturday’s Slater Cup clash between Gloucester and Leicester Tigers is a perfect example.
For the first time, this fixture will be held at Villa Park, as Gloucester ventures into Birmingham to host a major event, leveraging their newly extended academy reach into the region. This game marks the eighth edition of the Slater Cup.
The Slater Cup was established in 2022 in tribute to Ed Slater, a former lock and captain of both Gloucester and Leicester Tigers, who was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (MND). Since its inception, the Cup has been contested whenever these two Premiership heavyweights meet, with Leicester currently leading the rivalry 5-2.
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Leicester won the initial three contests, adding pressure on Gloucester, particularly for former teammate Lewis Ludlow, a Gloucester flanker. Ludlow reminisces about Slater’s sharp wit and encouragement, especially during Gloucester’s wait for their first victory in the Cup.
“Anyone who knows Ed appreciates his dark and funny sense of humor,” Ludlow said. “Back then, we hadn’t won yet—it was the fourth match before we finally got that breakthrough. Every time I got a call from Ed, he’d say, ‘Time’s ticking mate, time’s ticking.’ I knew the pressure was on.”
Gloucester claimed their first win in March 2024, and since then, the teams have taken turns hoisting the trophy. Leicester Tigers most recently asserted their dominance with a commanding 45-14 victory at Welford Road in December.
The current season finds the two clubs in contrasting positions: Leicester, last season’s finalists, are third in the Premiership table, while Gloucester stand eighth. Ludlow emphasized the importance of the match beyond sentiment.
“With all the emotion surrounding this game, both teams still need Premiership points,” Ludlow explained. “Ed would agree—it’s a Premiership fixture, and we at Gloucester desperately need those five points.”
However, the emotional aspect remains deeply personal for Ludlow. The game offers a vital platform to raise awareness and funds for MND research and support.
“Ed means a great deal to me personally. But on a larger scale, this competition started from two great clubs honoring someone who gave so much. Now, it’s grown beyond that,” Ludlow said.
Hosting the game at a venue that can hold 40,000 spectators is critical for raising both awareness and funds for MND. The 4Ed foundation, inspired by Slater’s battle, has distributed over £100,000 in grants to those affected by MND across the UK. Remarkably, Ed Slater himself decides where the funds are allocated.
In a powerful gesture, £1 from every ticket sold for Saturday’s game will be donated to the 4Ed foundation. Already, more than 20,000 tickets have been sold, underscoring the community’s support for this vital cause.