Mike Tindall and Martin Johnson to Lead Charity Cycle for MND Ahead of Slater Cup

Gloucester Rugby has announced that England rugby legends Mike Tindall and Martin Johnson CBE will go head-to-head in a team cycle race to raise vital funds and awareness for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

The Race to The Slater Cup will take place ahead of the next Slater Cup fixture, created in honour of former Gloucester and Leicester Tigers player Ed Slater following his diagnosis with MND in July 2022.

The Cup is contested between the two teams every season across home and away Gallagher PREM fixtures, with the next leg of The Slater Cup taking place at Villa Park in Birmingham on Saturday 28 March in front of a crowd of 40,000. The match will form part of rugby top flight’s ‘Big Game’ weekend where Gloucester will join both Bristol and Saracens in hosting fixtures away from their home stadiums, the first time The Slater Cup has been played outside of a traditional rugby ground.

The Race to the Slater Cup teams will be captained by England legends Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby) and Martin Johnson CBE (Leicester Tigers) and made up of former players from both sides, to be announced over the coming weeks, who will race approximately 45 miles from their respective home stadiums (Kingsholm and Welford Road) to Villa Park, in a bid to arrive first.

Zeus Events will once again co-ordinate the challenge, having run the inaugural 4ED cycle in 2022 when Ed and his former Cherry & White team mates cycled over 300-miles from Kingsholm, visiting Ed’s former Clubs including Leicester Tigers and Milton Keynes RFC.

Both teams will be fundraising for the 4ED Foundation, the charity set up by Ed Slater after his diagnosis, to support people affected by MND with much needed support, including adaptations to homes, days out for carers and mental health support. In addition, 50% of the profits raised through the cycle will go to support Lewis Moody and his family and/or his chosen charity.

Looking ahead to the cycle ride, Ed Slater said, “It’s a huge honour to know that two absolute legends of the game, and others to be announced, will be taking part in this challenge. Both Gloucester and Leicester mean a huge amount to me and I’m forever grateful to the support they’ve shown me and my family, particularly over the past three years.

“While my name is in the title of The Slater Cup, it’s about so much more than me; it’s about raising awareness of this cruel disease and funds to support people impacted by it. I’m sure with the weight of Tinds, Johnno and others, we can make a big difference to the MND community.”

World Cup winner and Gloucester legend Mike Tindall added, “The Race to The Slater Cup is a brilliant way to raise money and support people living with Motor Neurone Disease. It’s been heartbreaking to see people I know and care about go through it and I’m determined to do everything I can to help. It’s an honour to captain the Gloucester cycle team and a really important cause to get behind.”

Six people are diagnosed with MND every day in the UK, affecting more than 5,000 adults at any one time. There is currently no cure.

Martin Johnson CBE, World Cup winner and former England and Leicester Tigers captain said, “MND is a horrible disease and it’s been really difficult to witness how it’s impacted Ed and his family, as well as others in the rugby community. What has been very special to see is how the community has united through it all, most recently with the news about my good friend and former teammate, Lewis. It will be a privilege to represent both Leicester Tigers and the wider rugby community as part of The Race to The Slater Cup next year.”

To find out more about 4ED and to donate to The Race to The Slater Cup, visit here.

Watch Gloucester face Leicester Tigers in the Slater Cup at Villa Park on Saturday 28 March 2026. Tickets start at just £10 and are available to purchase at gloucesterrugby.co.uk. £1 of every ticket sale will go to 4ED to support families affected by MND., with a minimum of 25% raised supporting Lewis Moody and/or his chosen charity.