Edward Nicholas Slater (born 1 August 1988) is a former English rugby union player who played at lock.
Following a diagnosis of
motor neurone disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that results in the progressive loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles. ALS is the most com ...
in July 2022, Slater retired from professional rugby.
Club career
Junior career
Born in
Leicester Slater began his rugby career at
Milton Keynes RUFC before moving to Australia. He established himself at
Eastern Suburbs RUFC
The Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Football Club is a team in the Intrust Super Shute Shield, the premier club rugby union football competition in New South Wales.
The club is based in Rose Bay in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, and was found ...
, Sydney, NSW. It was here that he began to really improve, starting in a successful U21s side and resulting in playing 1st grade rugby for 'The Beasties'. He also enjoyed a short stint with the
NSW Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs ( or ;), referred to as the Waratahs, are an Australian professional rugby union team representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super Rugby competition. The Riverina and other southern parts of the stat ...
, where he was signed on a Junior contract. After a short trial with Leicester Tigers he joined Nottingham at the opening stages of the playoff campaign. Here he played alongside future Tigers teammate
Tom Youngs. His performances in the Championship playoffs and for the Tigers' development side earned him a move to his hometown club,
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers (officially Leicester Football Club) are a professional rugby union club based in Leicester, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby.
The club was founded in 1880 and since 1892 plays its ho ...
in the summer of 2010.
Leicester Tigers
In 2009/10 Slater provided cover for long-term injuries to England international locks
Louis Deacon
Louis Deacon (born 7 October 1980, in Leicester) is a former English professional rugby union footballer. He played lock.
Career
His playing career started as an eight-year-old, playing with Wigston, before joining Syston RFC and as a Rat ...
and
Geoff Parling, whilst the retirements of
Ben Kay and
Richard Blaze allowed Slater to break through to the first team squad. Slater's consistent performances earned him Tigers' Player of the Month award in October 2010 and he went on to make over 30 appearances for the club in his first season. In the same season he helped Tigers top the leaderboard and make it to the Aviva Premiership final in the 2010-2011 season.
A successful 2012/2013 campaign culminated in a Premiership winners medal for Slater, he was a used replacement in the final. Slater captained the Tigers in the 14/15 (although injured for the majority of the season, he returned to captain the side for the last 10 games) and 15/16 seasons.
Gloucester
On 7 August 2017, Slater left Leicester to sign for
Gloucester Rugby
Gloucester Rugby are a professional rugby union club based in the West Country city of Gloucester, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby, as well as in the European Rugby Champions Cup.
The club was formed i ...
as part of a swap deal with
Jonny May
Jonathan James May (born 1 April 1990) is a professional rugby union player for Gloucester in Premiership Rugby and for the national team. He plays as a winger and is known for his speed and try scoring.
He began his senior career at Glouces ...
joining
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers (officially Leicester Football Club) are a professional rugby union club based in Leicester, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby.
The club was founded in 1880 and since 1892 plays its ho ...
from the 2017-18 season. On 21st July 2022, Slater confirmed he was diagnosed with
ALS (motor neurone disease) and retired immediately.
International career
Slater was selected in the
England Saxons
England A is England's men's second national rugby union team. The team has previously been known by a number of names, such as England B, Emerging England and, most recently, England Saxons. England A play a key role in the development of emer ...
squad in 2012.
He was selected in the senior England Squad in 2012/13, but unfortunately an injury sustained in the Aviva Premiership final ruled him out of the tour shortly after being selected. He was then selected for both the 2014 Six Nations and the summer tour to New Zealand, where he captained England against the Canterbury Crusaders in his first appearance for the senior England side.
Slater was included in Stuart Lancaster's World Cup 51 man training squad.
He also featured in Eddie Jones' plans at the beginning of 2016, but was injured again (knee).
Personal life and health
Slater announced that he had been diagnosed with
motor neurone disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that results in the progressive loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles. ALS is the most com ...
in July 2022. He retired from professional rugby with immediate effect.
References
External links
Leicester profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Slater, Edward
1988 births
Living people
English rugby union players
Gloucester Rugby players
Leicester Tigers players
Nottingham R.F.C. players
Rugby union flankers
Rugby union locks
Rugby union players from Leicester
People with motor neuron disease