Leicester and Gloucester to contest The Slater Cup

Leicester Tigers and Gloucester are set to contest The Slater Cup as part of their Gallagher Premiership season.

The Slater Cup is named after Gloucester and Leicester lock Ed Slater and will take place twice every season on each home and away Gallagher Premiership fixture.

Slater played for Tigers for seven years, captaining the club across two seasons. He signed for Gloucester in 2017, making 90 appearances for the Cherry and Whites before retiring in June 2022, following his diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

The ‘4Ed’ campaign has been set up in the wake of the diagnosis and fundraising efforts have so far raised over £214,000. Further funding raising will take place at either fixture during Slater Cup games.

“The support my family and I have received has been incredible; it’s not something we ever expected” commented Ed, who retired earlier this year.

“It’s a huge privilege for me and my family to see two great English clubs contest for a cup in my name. I put everything I had in to playing for both Leicester and Gloucester and I’m extremely proud to have represented both clubs.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the efforts so many people have gone to, whether it’s a 350+ mile cycle, a local charity raffle or the Slater Cup. It’s so important to me to ensure my family are taken care of but also, that we raise as much awareness as possible for MND, in the hope of finding treatment and a cure. I hope through the Slater Cup, those efforts to raise awareness can continue”.

The Slater Cup will kick-off during Leicester Tigers’ home match against Gloucester on Christmas Eve. The second leg will take place in Kingsholm on Sunday 12 March, with kick-off time of 1pm, with 5 per cent from every ticket sold will going directly to the 4Ed campaign.