Slater Cup Set for Villa Park in Historic Move

The annual rugby clash between Gloucester Rugby and Leicester Tigers, known as the Slater Cup, will be held at Villa Park, Birmingham, in the 2025/26 season. This marks the first time the match will be staged away from the traditional home grounds of Kingsholm (Gloucester) and Welford Road (Leicester).

A Tribute to Ed Slater

The Slater Cup was established in November 2022 to honor Ed Slater, a former captain of both Gloucester Rugby and Leicester Tigers [1]. Slater was forced to retire in July 2022 following a diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Inaugural Seasons and Expansion

The inaugural Slater Cup match took place in the 2022–23 season, with Leicester Tigers emerging as the first winners [1]. The competition has since expanded to include the women’s game, with the first women’s edition featuring Gloucester-Hartpury and Leicester Tigers Women played in the 2023–24 season [1].

Villa Park Venue and Capacity

The move to Villa Park, with a capacity exceeding 40,000, is expected to draw a significant crowd [2]. Gloucester Rugby will host their leg of the Slater Cup at the Birmingham venue.

Special Edition Shirts and Fundraising

In February 2023, Gloucester Rugby announced a limited edition Slater Cup shirt, designed in collaboration with Ed Slater and his family [1]. £10 from each shirt sold was donated to the Slater family to support his treatment and provide financial assistance. The shirt also aimed to raise awareness for MND [1]. Both Gloucester teams wore the special shirt during the double-header match on November 25, 2023 [1].