Slater Cup Explained

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 the former captain of both clubs Ed Slater. 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 that they would play in a limited edition Slater Cup shirt.[4] The shirt was designed by Ed and his family. 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 valuable 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, played at Kingsholm on 25 November 2023, was a double-header featuring the men's game first followed by the inaugural women's Slater cup, a Premiership Women's Rugby game between Gloucester-Hartpury Women and Leicester Tigers Women.[6] [2] [1] Both Gloucester teams wore the limited edition Slater Cup shirt that was designed by Ed and his family.[6]

Men's Cup

Men's Slater Cup
Sport:Rugby union
Competition:Premiership Rugby
Awardedfor:Winner of GloucesterLeicester Tigers
First:24 December 2022
ago
Number:3
Mostwins:Leicester Tigers (3)
Mostrecent:Gloucester (2024) ago

Results summary

Cup wins/holds
Team
Gloucester1
Leicester Tigers3
Match wins
TeamWins
Gloucester1
Leicester Tigers3
Draws0
SeasonDateHomeScoreAwayStadium and locationHolder (aggregate times held)
2022–2324 December 2022Leicester Tigers28–13GloucesterWelford Road, Leicester[7] [8]
2022–2312 March 2023Gloucester5–26Leicester TigersKingsholm Stadium, Gloucester[9] [10]
2023–2425 November 2023Gloucester20–38Leicester TigersKingsholm Stadium, Gloucester[11]
2023–2422 March 2024Leicester Tigers25–27GloucesterWelford Road, Leicester[12]

Match details

1st edition

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2nd edition

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4th edition

Records

The current record number of points scored by a player in a Slater Cup game was set by Handré Pollard in 2023 when he scored 18 points (3 conversions and 4 penalties).[11] The most tries scored in a Slater Cup fixture is 2, held by Anthony Watson set in 2022 and Ollie Hassell-Collins set in 2023.

Women's Cup

Women's Slater Cup
Sport:Rugby union
Competition:Premiership Women's Rugby
Awardedfor:Winner of Gloucester-HartpuryLeicester Tigers
First:25 November 2023
ago
Number:2
Mostwins:Gloucester Hartpury (2)
Mostrecent:Gloucester Hartpury (2023) ago

Results summary

Cup wins/holds
Team
Gloucester-Hartpury2
Leicester Tigers0
Match wins
TeamWins
Gloucester-Hartpury2
Leicester Tigers0
Draws0
SeasonDateHomeScoreAwayStadium and locationHolder (aggregate times held)Report
2023–2425 November 2023Gloucester-Hartpury52–14 Leicester TigersKingsholm Stadium, GloucesterGloucester-Hartpury (2)Report
2023–243 February 2024Leicester Tigers26–33Gloucester-HartpuryWelford Road, LeicesterReport

Match details

2nd edition

Records

The current record number of points scored by a player in a Women's Slater Cup game was set by Emma Sing in 2023 when she scored 17 points (1 try and 6 conversions).[2] In 2024, Catherine Richards scored 2 tries in a match, matching Mia Venner who set the record for the most tries in a Women's Slater Cup fixture in 2023.[2] [13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tigers suffer bruising defeat in Slater Cup . . 25 November 2023 . en . 25 November 2023.
  2. Web site: Gloucester Hartpury dominate Leicester Tigers in try-fest . . 25 November 2023 . en . 25 November 2023.
  3. News: Ed Slater: Gloucester & Leicester to contest trophy named after ex-player with MND . BBC Sport . 18 November 2022 . 12 March 2023.
  4. Web site: Gloucester Rugby unveil limited edition Slater Cup shirt .
  5. News: Gloucester Rugby shirt to raise money for Ed Slater . BBC News . 23 February 2023 . 12 March 2023.
  6. News: The Slater Cup double-header set for Kingsholm . 14 November 2023 . . 2 October 2023 . en.
  7. Web site: Tigers win inaugural Slater Cup .
  8. Web site: Wigglesworth's Leicester reign opens with win . . 22 March 2024 . 24 December 2022.
  9. Web site: Gloucester Rugby Vs Leicester Tigers .
  10. Web site: Leicester beat Gloucester to boost play-off hopes . . 22 March 2024 . 12 March 2023.
  11. Web site: Leicester retain Slater Cup with win at Gloucester . . 22 March 2024 . 25 November 2023.
  12. Web site: Varney seals stunning Gloucester win at Leicester . . 22 March 2024 . 22 March 2024.
  13. Web site: Gloucester-Hartpury survive scare to secure their eighth consecutive win against Leicester Tigers . . 6 February 2024 . en . 3 February 2024.