The Cherry & Whites host 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership winners Leicester Tigers on Sunday in the first-ever Slater Cup fixture to be hosted at Kingsholm.

Club captain Lewis Ludlow thinks every game now could have a big impact on their final league position.

“It’s a huge game. These next five or six games are crucial in what will separate the table. People have been crying out for a really competitive Premiership table and we’ve certainly got that this year.

“We’re happy to be right in the mix and a big win at home on Sunday will put us in a great spot.”

After narrowly losing the inaugural Slater Cup in December, Ludlow and his side are looking forward to contesting for the trophy again. But it’s the meaning behind the cup that drives the players.

“It’s a big one for us and it means a lot.

“Games at Kingsholm are always amazing and when you add in the fact that it’s Gloucester v Leicester, two great rugby clubs, and now it’s the Slater Cup as well it should be a really good occasion.

“We’ve been very emotionally charged in training and towards the back end of the week we’ll try and taper that off to spike on Sunday in what will be a hugely emotional game.”

The Gloucester Rugby team will wear a limited edition 4Ed shirt designed by Ed’s children. You can purchase yours here. Ludlow says putting on the jersey means a lot to the players.

“We get the chance to wear this amazing one-off jersey designed by Ed’s kids, so it means a lot to them, and us.”

The skipper says that it’s not just Ed that they’re supporting on Sunday, it’s the whole MND community.

“It’s not just about supporting Ed but also MND as a whole which is a critically underfunded disease in the UK, and hopefully we can do our bit to raise the profile of that.”

A team of Gloucester legends and a team of Leicester legends will be going head-to-head in a 12-hour fitness challenge in the fan zone on Sunday morning. Ludlow encourages fans attending the fixture to support if you can.

“It’ll be great. A few of the old boys are a bit nervous about that fitness challenge, and Mark Atkinson is very nervous because he hasn’t done much in a while with his injury. So get down and support them In the fan zone.

“Anything we can do as a club or as a team to help raise awareness and support all of those suffering, including our good mate Ed, we’ll always do.”

"It means a lot." Ludlow on Sunday's Slater Cup game against Leicester

Related News