Edward Nicholas Slater (born 1 August 1988)[2] is a former English rugby union player who played at lock.
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| Birth name | Edward Nicholas Slater | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 1 August 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Leicester, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 116 kg (18 st 4 lb) [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Denbigh School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Following a diagnosis of motor neurone disease in July 2022, Slater retired from professional rugby.[3]
Club career
editJunior career
editBorn in Leicester Slater began his rugby career at Milton Keynes RUFC before moving to Australia. He established himself at Eastern Suburbs RUFC, 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, where he was signed on a Junior contract.[4] 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 in the summer of 2010.
Leicester Tigers
editIn 2009/10 Slater provided cover for long-term injuries to England international locks Louis Deacon 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.[5] 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.[6] 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
editOn 7 August 2017, Slater left Leicester to sign for Gloucester Rugby as part of a swap deal with Jonny May joining Leicester Tigers from the 2017–18 season. On 21 July 2022, Slater confirmed he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and retired immediately.[7]
International career
editSlater was selected in the England Saxons squad in 2012.[8] He was selected in the senior England Squad in 2012/13,[9] but unfortunately an injury sustained in the Aviva Premiership final ruled him out of the tour shortly after being selected.[10] He was then selected for both the 2014 Six Nations and the summer tour to New Zealand,[11] 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.[12] He also featured in Eddie Jones' plans at the beginning of 2016, but was injured again (knee).[13]
Personal life and health
editSlater announced that he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease in July 2022. He retired from professional rugby with immediate effect.[14]
References
edit- ^ "Aviva Premiership Rugby - Leicester Tigers". web page. Premier Rugby. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ^ "Ed Slater ESPN profile". ESPN. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "Club Statement: Ed Slater". Gloucester Rugby. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ "Call-up by home club Leicester Tigers leaves Slater pinching himself". Leicester Mercury. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013.
- ^ Ed Slater surprised by fine start at Leicester Tigers 17 November 2010
- ^ "Aviva Premiership final: Leicester 37-17 Northampton". BBC. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ "Gloucester sign Leicester Tigers lock Ed Slater". Telegraph. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ^ Saxons debut delight for Slater
- ^ Ed Slater called in to Senior England squad
- ^ Ed Slater and Calum Clark ruled out of Argentina tour
- ^ "Crusaders v England: Ed Slater to skipper midweek team in Christchurch | Rugby Union News | Sky Sports". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ "England announce Rugby World Cup training group". englandrugby.com. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ^ Schofield, Daniel (2016). "England problems mount for Eddie Jones with Ed Slater and Dave Attwood facing lengthy spells on the sidelines". Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- ^ "What is motor neurone disease and what causes it? Ed Slater diagnosed at 33". uk.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- ^ "Ed Slater: Passionate Appeal for MND Awareness". Innews247. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.