Gloucester aim to channel Ed Slater’s mentality against Leicester as they compete for their first win in the Slater Cup on Saturday.
It is contested across both Premiership games between them each season with Leicester having won both in 2022-23.
The women’s teams will also play in the double-header at Kingsholm.
“The team that wins is probably the team that represents him best in terms of being diligent, working hard, being accurate, being physical – all the things Ed was as a player and is as a bloke,” Gloucester captain Lewis Ludlow told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.
“It’s how you represent that the best and the team that does that the best will end up winning the game and that’s what we’re going to pride ourselves on this week.”
Former lock Slater, 35, retired from rugby in July last year after being given the diagnosis while playing for Gloucester.
He joined the West Country side in 2017 and went on to make 78 appearances in the Premiership for the club.
Slater previously spent seven years with the Tigers, winning the Premiership title in 2012-13 and also captaining the side for two seasons.
Ludlow said his former team-mate is a mentor to him.
“He’s brilliant, for a guy going through what he’s going through and the family what’s happening they’re remarkably strong, all of them. Every time you go over there it’s great to see,” Ludlow said.
“He’s done all that, he’s seen it all, he’s been through it when teams have won the Premiership, when teams have been at the bottom the league.
“He’s been there and seen all the situations and it’s great for me to just pick his brain because it does help a lot.”
‘It adds another layer of emotion’
While Slater’s most recent history is with Gloucester, Tigers centre Matt Scott said the occasion is not lost on Leicester with many of their squad having played alongside him six years ago and enjoyed times on and off the pitch.
“People talk about Gloucester using it as a lot of emotion, and I’m sure they will because he is a Gloucester player, but it certainly doesn’t go over our heads either how tough a time Ed’s had and how unbelievable him and his family have been throughout the whole diagnosis and dealing with what he’s going through,” Scott told BBC Radio Leicester.
“It’s certainly added another layer of emotion to the fixture. We won both of them [previous Ed Slater Cup games] and it was brilliant, and I think they will be even more determined to win it this time at home.”
Gloucester come into the game off the back of four defeats in a row.
While they are a place and a point above their opponents in the table, Leicester were buoyed by victory against rivals Northampton Saints last weekend – their first home win of the campaign.
“They have lost a few games on the bounce and we have also had a tough start to the season, so I know what it’s like – you get that level of desperation to want to win, and you add that extra layer of wanting to play for your mate in the stand who is unable to be other there with you,” Scott added.
“Gloucester will have so much motivation this week so it’s going to be a feisty affair for sure.”
A ‘special’ double-header
Gloucester-Hartpury will also begin the defence of their Premiership Women’s Rugby title on Saturday facing the newly promoted Tigers side.
It will be their first return to Kingsholm since winning the title for the first time in June. The players donated their matchday fees from that game to the 4ED fund set up by Slater and his family.
“It’s just pretty special and the girls are truly, truly grateful for making it a double-header but more for Ed. It’s just an amazing occasion,” head coach Sean Lynn said.
