Ed Slater Cup ‘important’ for Leicester to win says boss Michael Cheika

Slater, 36, has been living with MND, a degenerative condition that affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord, since being diagnosed in 2022.

And the former lock has become the latest high-profile sports person to raise awareness of the condition.

After the death Rob Burrow in June, more than four years after being diagnosed, Slater gave his “thanks” to the rugby league great for giving a voice to him and many other people with MND.

Ben Youngs, who played alongside Slater for the duration of the lock’s seven years at Tigers, said his former team-mate “continues to inspire” them just as he did as a fiercely combative athlete on the pitch.

“It’s proper humbling when this week comes around because you are reminded what a special guy he was in and around this environment,” Youngs said.

“To now see him fighting this battle, which is incredibly cruel, it’s a tough week emotionally for a lot of guys.”