‘Big Game’ weekend comes to Birmingham: Gloucester v Leicester at Villa Park in the Slater Cup
This year’s Slater Cup clash between Leicester Tigers and Gloucester at Birmingham’s Villa Park has “an extra layer of meaning” for England rugby legend Lewis Moody following his recent diagnosis with MND, he said today.
Each time they meet the two Gallagher PREM clubs compete for the Slater Cup, named after Ed Slater, the former Cherry & Whites and Tigers lock who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in July 2022.
In a heartbreaking twist, attending this year’s match at Villa Park on March 28 will be ex-Tigers, England and British & Irish Lions flanker Lewis Moody, who was also diagnosed with MND in September last year.
‘For personal reasons, this one will have an extra layer of meaning for me’
Moody told West Midlands News how the clash this March will have an added poignancy for him and his family.
“The Slater Cup is always a great event, but for personal reasons, this one will have an extra layer of meaning for me,” said the 47-year-old.
“While I’m still coming to terms with my diagnosis, Ed has been bravely battling this illness for a few years now.
‘Love from the rugby family’
“I’m looking forward to seeing him and feeling the incredible love from the rugby family.
“And, needless to say, I’ll be hoping for a Tigers win.”
The Slater Cup is contested by Gloucester and Leicester every season across each home and away Gallagher PREM fixture.
In the 2025/26 season, Gloucester’s Slater Cup clash with the Togers will kick off at 1pm at the 40,000-seater Villa Park as part of the ‘Big Game’ weekend.
The Cherry & Whites will join Saracens and Bristol as clubs that will host a fixture away from their home stadium, as part of the ‘Big Game’ weekend, during Round 12 in March 2026.
‘Great source of comfort for me and my family’
Slater, reflecting on what the Slater Cup means, told BBC Radio Leicester a few years ago: “It’s been a real source of encouragement in an extremely bleak time, I’ll be honest. You can’t help but at times feel alone when something like this happens.
“The support I’ve had from the MND community, but not just them, but the rugby community, gives you a real sense of encouragement and a bit of pride as well.
“I spent a long time at Leicester and Gloucester, and I like to think the supporters acknowledge that when I was playing at those clubs, I did absolutely everything I could to be playing the best I could and deliver on the pitch.
“You never expect to be in this situation, but I’ve been placed here and the encouragement and the messages and support I’ve had is a great source of comfort for me and my family but also a great source of motivation.”
To book your tickets, visit: https://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/the-slater-cup-at-villa-park
