‘Every day we’re one step closer to finding the cure’: Former Bath captain hails Slater Cup impact as game unites against MND
Matt Garvey on the importance of The Slater Cup
The Slater Cup is due to take place at Villa Park on Saturday, and former Gloucester player Matt Garvey has highlighted the importance of the event.
The Slater Cup was created in honour of former Gloucester and Leicester Tigers player Ed Slater, after he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in July 2022. The match is contested every season during each home and away Gallagher PREM fixture between the two teams.
While the excitement and passion around the game builds, raising awareness of the disease and funding research to find a cure is the ultimate goal.
“The Slater Cup has been a great thing that Leicester and Gloucester have done, and they’ve made it bigger and better each year,” Garvey told Planet Rugby.
“If you speak to Ed and Lewis (Moody), they want to make people aware. Because whilst they’re in the limelight, there are obviously hundreds of other people who are going through similar stages of this awful disease. So, the awareness piece is huge.”
The likes of Doddie Weir, Rob Burrow and Matt Gallagher have all passed in recent years after being diagnosed with the disease, so the rugby community has regularly come together to raise money and awareness for the cause.
“The rugby community, the 745 game, rugby league and rugby union coming together. You’ve seen charity bike rides, you’ve seen numerous events coming together to raise money for Ed, Lewis, their families, their kids, and all the other people going through it. So it’s great to see so many people coming forward, offering to support, clubs coming forward.
“I know what it means to them, personally, and the help that it’s given them, but the only thing we can work towards is a cure to end all of this.”
Friends on and off the pitch
Garvey played with Slater during his time at Gloucester, and the two have remained good friends since. The 38-year-old praised Ed’s support network and the “sacrifices” that they’re willing to make.
“Bill (Billy Twelvetrees) is best mates with Ed, and Fraser Balmain, people like that, they’re always around there (at Ed’s house), supporting Jo and the kids and Ed as well.
“Ed, I’m sure, will be eternally grateful for that, but that’s what it’s about. You know, you play rugby together, and you get in tough spots on the rugby pitch, and those friendships that are forged in those moments live off the pitch, outside the white line, and you see that.
“The network of people rallying around these guys is countless, and we’ll all do it. We’ll all do whatever we can, because the guys, Ed and Lewis, and even Doddie, Rob, they would do the same for us without hesitation. It’s just unfortunately, they’re in that position, and we’re the ones who want to help them and protect them as much as we can.”
Race to the Slater Cup
In addition to the match itself, former rugby players and friends of the cause have agreed to ride approximately 45 miles from their respective home stadiums (Kingsholm and Welford Road) to Villa Park ahead of the game.
The Race to the Slater Cup will see teams from Gloucester and Leicester Tigers go head-to-head in an effort to arrive first. They will be captained by England legends Mike Tindall (Gloucester) and Martin Johnson (Leicester Tigers) and will be made up of former players from both sides.
Garvey, who took part in the 745 game back in November, chuckled as we discussed the upcoming race.
“Good luck,” he said. “I did a charity bike ride for Ed a couple of years ago, and it took me forever for my bum to recover from that bike saddle. So, they got a bit further than I went. It’s great to see it. I’m sure they’ll enjoy it, it’s one to enjoy.
“It will be horrible,” he did admit, however, adding, “it has to be, because you want to raise so much money. But what a great thing to see, so many lads pulling together to raise money for this cause. Every day we’re one step closer to finding the cure and ending people having to go through this.”
The Slater Cup
As a former Gloucester player, Garvey is hoping his former club can take victory at Villa Park.
“It’s gonna be a real interesting one,” he said. “Obviously, the emotions of Gloucester will be real. People like Lewis Ludlow, leading the charge and the emotion. They’ve come off the back of a victory, so they’ve got a bit of bounce back in the squad, back in the environment.
“They’ve tasted wins again, and they will want to replicate that. I think the environment will be amazing, but Leicester look pretty tough at the moment, so I think it’s gonna be a close one.
“It’ll be an emotional one, and it might even come down to who can carry those emotions in the best possible way, but I’d like to think that Gloucester can pick up another W for Ed.”
Match details:
Watch Gloucester face Leicester Tigers in the Slater Cup at Villa Park on Saturday, 28 March 2026. Tickets start at just £10 and can be purchased on the Gloucester website.
£1 of every ticket sale will go to 4ED to support families affected by MND, with 50% of profits raised supporting Lewis Moody and/or his chosen charity.
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