The Slater Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of the rugby match between Gloucester Rugby and Leicester Tigers twice every season in Premiership Rugby. It is named after Ed Slater, the former captain of both clubs, who was forced to retire in July 2022 after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). The inaugural edition was played in the 2022–23 season and was won by Leicester Tigers. The trophy extends to Premiership Women's Rugby, featuring Gloucester–Hartpury and Leicester Tigers Women. The inaugural women's edition was played in the 2023–24 season.[1][2]
History
In November 2022, Gloucester Rugby and Leicester Tigers announced that they would compete for a trophy named after Ed Slater. Slater played for and captained both clubs but was forced to retire in July 2022 after a diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease.[3]
In February 2023, Gloucester Rugby announced that for the first Slater Cup game played at Kingsholm they would play in a limited edition Slater Cup shirt.[4] The shirt was designed by Ed Slater, his wife Jo, and their three children. The club also announced that £10 from every shirt sold would go directly to the family to aid Ed's treatment and help fund adaptations to his home, while also providing financial support to his young family. The shirt was also designed to raise awareness of MND.[5]
The third men's edition and the first women's edition of the Slater Cup were played as a double-header at Kingsholm on 25 November 2023, with the men's game first followed by the inaugural women's Slater Cup, a Premiership Women's Rugby game between Gloucester–Hartpury and Leicester Tigers Women.[6][2][1] Both Gloucester teams wore the limited edition Slater Cup shirt designed by Ed and his family.[6]
The second Slater Cup of the 2025–26 season was staged away from Kingsholm and Welford Road for the first time, with the match taking place at Villa Park, Birmingham, on 28 March 2026, as part of Premiership Rugby's Big Match Bonanza.[7][8] Ahead of the fixture, a charity cycle race was organised in aid of the 4ED Foundation and Lewis Moody, with riders from both clubs racing approximately 45 miles from Welford Road and Kingsholm respectively to Villa Park. The teams will be captained by Martin Johnson (Leicester Tigers) and Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby). £1 from every match ticket also donated to the 4ED Foundation.[9] Both clubs produced special edition shirts for the match, Gloucester's 4ED shirt featured elements hand-drawn by Ed Slater's children, with a £10 donation made per shirt to the 4ED charity.[10] Both Gloucester and Gloucester–Hartpury will wear the kit. Leicester's special edition shirt celebrates the city's cultural diversity and the Golden Mile's South Asian heritage, with 10% of sales donated to 4ED.[11]
Men's Cup
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Competition | Premiership Rugby |
| Awardedfor | Winner of Gloucester vs Leicester Tigers |
| First | 24 December 2022; ago |
| Number | 8 |
| Mostwins | Leicester Tigers (6) |
| Mostrecent | Leicester Tigers (28 March 2026) ago |
Results summary
| Team | Gms. |
|---|---|
| Gloucester Rugby | 2 |
| Leicester Tigers | 6 |
| Team | Wins |
|---|---|
| Gloucester Rugby | 2 |
| Leicester Tigers | 6 |
| Draws | 0 |
| Season | Date | Home | Score | Away | Stadium and location | Holder (aggregate times held) | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 24 December 2022 | Leicester Tigers | 28–13 | Gloucester | Welford Road, Leicester[12] | Leicester (1) | [13] |
| 2022–23 | 12 March 2023 | Gloucester | 5–26 | Leicester Tigers | Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester[14] | Leicester (2) | [15] |
| 2023–24 | 25 November 2023 | Gloucester | 20–38 | Leicester Tigers | Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester | Leicester (3) | [16] |
| 2023–24 | 22 March 2024 | Leicester Tigers | 25–27 | Gloucester | Welford Road, Leicester | Gloucester (1) | [17] |
| 2024-25 | 20 October 2024 | Leicester Tigers | 29–26 | Gloucester | Welford Road, Leicester | Leicester (4) | [18] |
| 2024-25 | 25 January 2025 | Gloucester | 38–31 | Leicester Tigers | Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester | Gloucester (2) | [19] |
| 2025-26 | 19 December 2025 | Leicester Tigers | 45–14 | Gloucester | Welford Road, Leicester | Leicester (5) | [20] |
| 2025-26 | 28 March 2026 | Gloucester | 17–36 | Leicester Tigers | Villa Park, Birmingham | Leicester (6) | [21] |
Match details
Notes
- Referees appointed to officiate Premiership matches are employed by the RFU, unless indicated otherwise.
1st edition
2nd edition
3rd edition
4th edition
5th edition
6th edition
7th edition
Records
The most points scored in a Slater Cup fixture is 18, set by Handré Pollard in the 3rd edition and matched by Santiago Carreras in the 6th edition. Pollard scored 3 conversions and 4 penalties,[16] while Carreras scored 1 try, 1 penalty and 5 conversions.[19] The most tries scored in a single Slater Cup fixture is 3, held by Max Llewellyn, set in the 5th edition.[18]
- Longest winning streak: 3 – Leicester Tigers (1st–3rd editions)
- Longest losing streak: 3 – Gloucester (1st–3rd editions)
- Biggest winning margin: 31 points – Leicester 45–14 Gloucester, 19 December 2025
- Smallest winning margin: 2 points – Leicester 25–27 Gloucester, 22 March 2024
Women's Cup
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Competition | Premiership Women's Rugby |
| Awardedfor | Winner of Gloucester–Hartpury vs Leicester Tigers |
| First | 25 November 2023; ago |
| Number | 6 |
| Mostwins | Gloucester–Hartpury (6) |
| Mostrecent | Gloucester–Hartpury (29 March 2026) ago |
Results summary
| Team | Gms. |
|---|---|
| Gloucester–Hartpury | 6 |
| Leicester Tigers | 0 |
| Team | Wins |
|---|---|
| Gloucester–Hartpury | 5 |
| Leicester Tigers | 0 |
| Draws | 0 |
| Season | Date | Home | Score | Away | Stadium and location | Holder (aggregate times held) | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | 25 November 2023 | Gloucester–Hartpury | 52–14 | Leicester Tigers | Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester | Gloucester–Hartpury (1) | [22] |
| 2023–24 | 3 February 2024 | Leicester Tigers | 26–33 | Gloucester–Hartpury | Welford Road, Leicester | Gloucester–Hartpury (2) | [23] |
| 2024–25 | 6 October 2024 | Gloucester–Hartpury | 57–29 | Leicester Tigers | Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester | Gloucester–Hartpury (3) | [24] |
| 2024–25 | 1 February 2025 | Leicester Tigers | 7–38 | Gloucester–Hartpury | Welford Road, Leicester | Gloucester–Hartpury (4) | [25] |
| 2025–26 | 21 December 2025 | Leicester Tigers | 12–75 | Gloucester–Hartpury | Welford Road, Leicester | Gloucester–Hartpury (5) | [26] |
| 2025–26 | 29 March 2026 | Gloucester–Hartpury | 51–14 | Leicester Tigers | Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester | Gloucester–Hartpury (6) | [27] |
Records
The record for most points scored by a player in a single Women's Slater Cup game was set by Emma Sing in the 5th edition in December 2025, when she scored 30 points (2 tries and 10 conversions).
- Longest winning streak: 5 – Gloucester–Hartpury (all five editions to date)
- Longest losing streak: 5 – Leicester Tigers (all five editions to date)
- Biggest winning margin: 63 points – Leicester 12–75 Gloucester–Hartpury, 21 December 2025
- Smallest winning margin: 7 points – Leicester 26–33 Gloucester–Hartpury, 3 February 2024
References
- ^ "Tigers suffer bruising defeat in Slater Cup". Leicester Tigers. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ "Gloucester–Hartpury dominate Leicester Tigers in try-fest". Gloucester–Hartpury. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ "Ed Slater: Gloucester & Leicester to contest trophy named after ex-player with MND". BBC Sport. 18 November 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "Gloucester Rugby unveil limited edition Slater Cup shirt"
- ^ "Gloucester Rugby shirt to raise money for Ed Slater". BBC News. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "The Slater Cup double-header set for Kingsholm". Gloucester Rugby. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ "Gloucester Rugby to host Slater Cup at Villa Park". Gloucester Rugby. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ^ "Villa Park to host Gallagher PREM Rugby". Aston Villa Football Club. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
- ^ "The Race to the Slater Cup". Gloucester Rugby Foundation. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
- ^ "2025/26 Slater Cup kit now on sale". Gloucester Rugby. 20 March 2026. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
- ^ "Leicester Tigers Men's 25/26 Slater Cup Special Edition Pro Shirt". Castore. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
- ^ "Tigers win inaugural Slater Cup"
- ^ "Wigglesworth's Leicester reign opens with win". BBC Sport. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Gloucester Rugby Vs Leicester Tigers"
- ^ "Leicester beat Gloucester to boost play-off hopes". BBC Sport. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Leicester retain Slater Cup with win at Gloucester". BBC Sport. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Varney seals stunning Gloucester win at Leicester". BBC Sport. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Premiership: Leicester 29-26 Gloucester: Tigers fight back to win". BBC Sport. 20 October 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
- ^ "Premiership: Gloucester 38-31 Leicester: Hosts win Slater Cup thriller". BBC Sport. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
- ^ "Kata stars as Leicester swat aside limp Gloucester". BBC Sport. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- ^ "Leicester hold off Gloucester fightback to retain Slater Cup at Villa Park". The Independent. 28 March 2026. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
- ^ "Gloucester–Hartpury V Leicester Tigers - 25th November 2023". Premiership Women's Rugby. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ "Leicester Tigers V Gloucester–Hartpury - 3rd February 2024". Premiership Women's Rugby. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ "Gloucester–Hartpury V Leicester Tigers - 6th October 2024". Premiership Women's Rugby. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ "Leicester Tigers V Gloucester–Hartpury - 1st February 2025". Premiership Women's Rugby. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- ^ "Leicester Tigers V Gloucester Hartpury - 21st December 2025". Premiership Women's Rugby. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
- ^ "Gloucester Hartpury Crowned Women's Slater Cup Winners". Gloucester Rugby. 29 March 2026. Retrieved 29 March 2026.