Rugby star Ed Slater has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease at the age of just 33. His club Gloucester released a statement this afternoon confirming the heartbreaking news, in addition to his immediate retirement from the sport.
“Gloucester Rugby is deeply pained to announce that Ed Slater has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND),” it read. “Following six months of testing, Ed’s diagnosis was confirmed last week and as a result, with the support of his family, friends and Gloucester Rugby, he has made the difficult decision to retire from professional rugby with immediate effect.
“Everyone at Gloucester Rugby - players, management and staff - are entirely committed to supporting Ed, his wife Jo and his three children in whatever way required. We know the same will be true of Gloucester and Leicester fans, and the wider rugby community.
“While Ed, his family and the Club take time to determine next steps, Gloucester Rugby have opened a JustGiving page. The direction of these funds will be determined in due course, whether it be supporting Ed and his family directly and/or a selected MND charity.
“Neither the Club nor the Slater family will be making any further comment at this time and kindly request that those wishes be respected.”
MND is a degenerative condition that affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Former players such as rugby league legend Rob Burrow and Scotland rugby union lock Doddie Weir are also suffering from the disease and have since been raising awareness.
Slater began his career with the Leicester Tigers and spent seven years with the side, where he won the Premiership title in 2012-13 and played 136 times as well as captaining the side over two seasons.
Slater joined the Cherry and Whites in 2017 and made 78 appearances for the club in the Premiership. On the international front, Slater was selected in the England Saxons 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 picked 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 side-lined due to injury once again.
