Freddie Steward and Solomone Kata star as Leicester Tigers rout Gloucester to capture Slater Cup in style
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Updated 19/12/2025 at 22:27 GMT
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The return of the Gallagher PREM saw Leicester Tigers dominate Gloucester to capture the Slater Cup and move up the table into second ahead of the rest of the weekend fixtures. Seven tries were scored by the hosts, who proved far too good and now sit just a point shy of table-toppers Bath. The result leaves Gloucester second from bottom with just one win from eight to start the season.
'Parting of the red sea!' - Kata scores searing solo try from halfway for Tigers
Video credit: TNT Sports
Leicester Tigers scored seven tries in a 45-14 rout of Gloucester in the Gallagher PREM, and lifted the Slater Cup while celebrating moving up to second in the table.
Solomone Kata, Ollie Chessum, Tommy Reffell, Billy Searle, Tom Whitely and James Thompson all crossed for Tigers, who were also awarded a penalty try that kicked off a nightmare 10-minute spell for Gloucester.
The Cherries weren’t particularly poor in the first half but failed to make the most of their line breaks and good field position, in stark contrast to their merciless hosts who took the lead when James Thompson capitalised on a storming Kata break by taking a clever line to crash over.
Less than 10 minutes later, the irrepressible Tongan had his second score, stepping inside Ross Byrne and scorching 50 metres to dot the ball down almost untouched.
Though Gloucester had opportunities to get back in the game, Tigers decisively took control either side of half-time when they scored a penalty try because Charlie Atkinson illegally stopped Ollie Hassall-Collins from scoring, and then Whitely touched down just 41 seconds after the break following a lightning Freddie Steward break.
Reffell capitalised on a devilish bounce that evaded Josh Hathaway - who joined the fray early for Rob Russell on an injury-plagued night for Gloucester that also saw Seb Blake hurt - and Tomos Williams, meaning the skipper could gratefully gather and score.
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'This is his home now!' - Searle steps his way to a beautiful solo try against Gloucester
Video credit: TNT Sports
Gloucester did finally get on the board through Hathaway, but Searle responded just minutes later with a jinking score that eclipsed even Kata’s before Chessum and Jack Clement traded tries in the dying embers of the contest.
The only blot on Tigers’ copybook was a red card for Charlie Clare for a horror clearout of Clement with 14 minutes left, as Gloucester slumped to their sixth defeat from seven Gallagher PREM games this season.
However, Leicester sent their fans home brimming with Christmas cheer by notching their fifth win of the season and remain comfortably in the hunt for the playoff places.
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Steward pleased to sharpen his attacking side
The England and Leicester full-back caught up with TNT Sports after the game, and stressed how hard he's working to develop the attacking element of his game.
"Silverware was on the line, we knew it was going to be a tough game. We challenged ourselves to come out flying at the start because we knew there was going to be a lot of emotion from Gloucester. We had a few scares early on, but we stuck in, pulled away and had to dog it out at the end.
"Whenever you play for silverware, it's important to lay down a marker. With what's on the line and Ed and the relation he has to Leicester Tigers and with everything going on, it's important that we did him proud tonight, and Gloucester certainly did as well.
"There's no shying away from it, the attacking side of my game probably hasn't been a strength over the last couple of years. It's been a challenge for me to add strings to my bow. For me, it's more of a confidence thing. Getting my hands on the ball, wanting to run and beat defenders, and play with a smile on my face and play with confidence. We all love scoring tries.
I've probably been shoeboxed a bit with my high-ball stuff, and it's nice to show a bit of the other side of my game, and that I've been working hard, hopefully people can see that.
"I think we're in a really good spot. Geoff's a great people man. The lads love him, we all have great relationships with him. And I think it's clear that Geoff's here to stay and we want to build something special over the next couple of years, and it starts now."
WATCH: Searle caps off strong performance with magical score
Searle had no right to score this!
'This is his home now!' - Searle steps his way to a beautiful solo try against Gloucester
Video credit: TNT Sports
Kata: Incredible 50-metre try was 'lucky'
The Gallagher PREM Player of the Match saluted his team when speaking to TNT Sports, but played down how good his own score was:
"Really proud of the boys, all the effort we put in. The whole week we focused on this game and you can see it out there. It was good."
On his try: " Honestly, so so lucky, the space was right there and took the opportunity. Credit to the boys who won the scrum, they looked pretty good tonight.
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'Parting of the red sea!' - Kata scores searing solo try from halfway for Tigers
Video credit: TNT Sports
What rugby is on TNT Sports?
Watch the 2025/26 Gallagher PREM live on TNT Sports and discovery+. That includes all of this weekend's clashes:
Friday: Leicester Tigers 45-14 Gloucester - FT
Saturday: Northampton Saints v Sale Sharks - 15:00, Saracens v Exeter - 15:00, Harlequins v Bristol Bears - 18:00
Sunday: Newcastle Red Bulls v Bath - 15:00 (all UK time).
80'+2 - FULL-TIME: LEICESTER TIGERS 45-14 GLOUCESTER
Tigers clinch the Slater Cup! They go level on points with Bath at the top of the table and have give their points difference column a huge boost.
80' - Clock into the red
Both sides are trying to give their supporters a final Christmas present as Tigers' win is confirmed.
76' - TRY!!!!!!!! LEICESTER TIGERS 45-14 GLOUCESTER (CLEMENT)
The number eight is the beneficiary from a rare rolling maul that rumbles over, though the Gloucester Twitter account indicates how thrilling Geroge Skivington's staff will be...
74' - TRY!!!!!!! LEICESTER TIGERS 45-7 GLOUCESTER (CHESSUM)
What happens when a lock tries a toe-drag dummy? He falls over! But it does matter as Chessum slides over to take Tigers' advantage over 40 points. Again it just takes one half-break and an offload to open up Gloucester like a can of baked beans, as Blamire busts up, then finds Chessum on his shoulder who just about makes it over the line.
72' - WATCH: Whiteley finishes fantastic Freddie Steward break
This was the score that sealed the bonus point for Leicester, who are still hunting more scores.
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'Rampant Tigers!' - Whiteley finishes incredible Tigers break for bonus point try
Video credit: TNT Sports
70' - Red card for Tigers
A nasty two-man clearout on Jack Clement earns Clare a 20-minute red card that means he won't return to the field, and Jamie Blamire will finish the game. It wasn't a mean challenge but it was certainly a tad brainless on a defenceless player in the ruck. Meanwhile Austin is now on the field, for Tomos Williams.
67' - Taking stock
After another wave of changes, here's how the sides are looking. Gloucester's replacement scrum-half Mikey Austin is the only finisher left from either team.
Leicester Tigers: Steward; Radwan, Woodward, Kata, Hassell-Collins; Bailey, Van Poortvliet; Haffar, Clare, Hurd; Henderson, Chessum; Thompson, Williams, Moro.
Gloucester: C Atkinson; Hathaway, Butler, Knight, Thorley; Bryne, Williams; Ford-Robinson, Innard, Fasogbon; Thomas, Jordan; Taylor, Ludlow, Clement.
64' - TRY! LEICESTER TIGERS 38-7 GLOUCESTER (SEARLE)
Searle beats six players on the way to the line and Tigers' supremacy is restored! It's a remarkable score by the former Wasp, who took a box kick outside the 22 and instead of botting the ball back, cuts inside the first charging player and just keeps going, breaking through two tackles and then crashing over!
He kicks the conversion, and then is rewarded with an early bath as he's withdrawn for Orlando Bailey, meaning Tigers' bench is empty.
61' - Controversy
Ludlow knocks Searle to the floor after the fly-half cleared the ball, but Dickson waves away Leicester complaints.
59' - TRY! LEICESTER TIGERS 31-7 GLOUCESTER (HATHAWAY)
Gloucester have life! From a lineout on the edge of the 22 they finally make something stick, beating the gainline with a Seb Atkinson crash ball and then working the ball wide before Tigers have time to reorganise.
Charlie Atkinson lands another superb offload out the back door to Hathaway on the wing who finishes brilliantly, cutting inside Steward and Radwan to touch down. Byrne nails the tough conversion too.
56' - Tiger bomb squad arrives
It's a whole new front row for the hosts, as Orlando is now Geoff Parling's only unused substitute. With all the changes and Gloucester now so far behind, the intensity has dropped from this contest somewhat.
53' - First Tiger changes
There's a huge cheer for Jack van Poortvliet as he returns from injury in place of Tom Whiteley while Ollie Chessum and Joe Woodward have also entered the fray.
50' - TRY!!!!! LEICESTER TIGERS 31-0 GLOUCESTER (REFFELL)
Calamity for Gloucester, who are surely out of the game now! Whiteley hangs a devilish kick over the defensive line and though Williams and Hathaway are both on station to cover, the devilish bounce dodges them both! Instead, it's gobbled up by Reffell who gratefully touches down.
46' - Fasogbon on
Laulala's struggled against Smith all afternoon and now the All Black's race is run - Afo Fasogbon will pack down at tighthead instead.
42' - TRY!!!! LEICESTER TIGERS 26-0 GLOUCESTER (WHITELEY)
It's another long-range score by Tigers and this time Steward is the architect! He doesn't leap to gather a high ball which means he can easily step away from the desperate tackles of Gloucester's chasers.
He arcs up the left flank and then ghosts past a couple of defenders, then times his pass to Whitely perfectly who races in untouched! Searle adds the extras too.
41' - Second half underway
Tigers will have first go with the ball.
HT - Care explains Atkinson yellow card
TNT Sports pundit Danny Care explained why Gloucester are down to 14:
"This is great by Billy Searle, Gloucester just switching off a bit, Ollie Hassall-Collins lovely bit of skill to catch and drop it on his left foot.
"This could've been an unbelievable try-saving tap tackle but unfortunately for Gloucester, if you stop a try being scored while you're off your feet that is a pentaly and if a try would've been scored without that man it's going to be given as a penalty try and it's a yellow card.
"Unfortunately, Atkinson slides in there and goes off his feet, denies Hassall-Collins and a try. I think he was going to score without him so it's a yellow card."
HT - WATCH: Kata scorches 50 metres to score
In a half that's featured plenty of line breaks, this was the best of them all:
'Parting of the red sea!' - Kata scores searing solo try from halfway for Tigers
Video credit: TNT Sports
HT - What rugby is on TNT Sports?
Watch the 2025/26 Gallagher PREM live on TNT Sports and discovery+. That includes all of this weekend's clashes:
Friday: Leicester Tigers 19-0 Gloucester - HT
Saturday: Northampton Saints v Sale Sharks - 15:00, Saracens v Exeter - 15:00, Harlequins v Bristol Bears - 18:00
Sunday: Newcastle Red Bulls v Bath - 15:00 (all UK time)
40' - HALF-TIME: LEICESTER TIGERS 19-0 GLOUCESTER
And there's an extended philosophical debate between Laulala and Smith as the props leave the field, it's been a cracking half.
39' - PENALTY TRY!!! LEICESTER TIGERS 19-0 GLOUCESTER
And Charlie Atkinson has been yellow-carded! Dickson adjudged he'd tackled Hassall-Collins while he was already on the floor and still in the field of play, so he's off. Gloucester fans won't be happy...
39' - Try for Tigers?
Hassall-Collins latches onto superb grubber, and looks set to score, until a brilliant tap tackle floors him. The winger tries desperately to slide over but it looks like Charlie Atkinson and Will Butler have done fantastically to hold him up.
38' - Knight saves the day!
It's a wondrous break by Freddie Steward! He arcs round to the left from the backfield and then a dummy leaves Lewis Ludlow for dead before he finally passes inside to Hassall-Collins.
21-year-old Will Knight has only been on for a few minutes after Hathaway departed for a HIA, but he comes up with a huge tackle on Hassall-Collins and drags him into touch.
35' - WATCH: Thompson gives Tigers the lead
As another promising Gloucester attack falls apart, here's the ruthlessness Tigers showed at the other end...
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'So much to admire about that!' - Thompson crashes over to open scoring for Tigers
Video credit: TNT Sports
32' - Opportunity gone
Laulala is penalised at the scrum and Leicester can clear - Gloucester have had scoring platforms this half but always come unstuck.
29' - Chance to hit back
Gloucester won that set-piece though and after busting up to five metres out, a Tigers knock-on will give them another shot from the scrum.
26' - Another Gloucester injury
Russell is the second Cherry to depart inside half an hour with what looks like a leg injury, so Josh Hathaway has now joined the fray. And it's more bad news for Gloucester as they face another scrum, meaning Nepo Laulala will resume his tough battle with Nicky Smith.
25' - Gloucester hit back
Russell makes a good break and finds Seb Atkinson who floats a pass that looks well forward out wide to keep the attack alive. However, Karl Dickson waves play-on and eventually Tomos Williams crosses for a score that's immediately chalked off for a later knock-on.
22' - TRY!! LEICESTER TIGERS 12-0 GLOUCESTER (KATA)
WHAT A SCORE!!! Kata has raced half the pitch to score almost untouched! He takes the ball and cuts back towards the scrum, completely wrong-footing Ross Byrne who has over-committed to the drift and leaves a gaping hole to his left.
From there it's simple for the Tongan, who showcases his explosive pace to leave the rest of the defence for dead!
The only blot on the score is Searle's conversion, which flies well wide.
19' - Scrum to Leicester
After a free kick apiece, it's the Tigers who can attack from midfield.
16' - Early change for Gloucester
Things go from bad to worse for The Cherries, who must defend the upcoming scrum with replacement Jack Innard because Seb Blake has gone off with what looks to be an injury to his right wrist.
13' - TRY! LEICESTER TIGERS 7-0 GLOUCESTER (THOMPSON)
But after that early Gloucester pressure, Leicester lead! Billy Searle sends Hassall-Collins scorching up the right wing and Tigers keep the pressure on, driving into their visitors' 22.
After Gloucester initially seemed to have slowed down the attack, Solomone Kata makes a brutal step off his left foot to get his side to within inches and then James Thompson picks a great crash ball line to score. Searle's conversion is perfect too.
11' - Panic stations again
Gloucester slip a grubber in behind and though Ollie Hassall-Collins appears to have it covered, a wicked bounce sends him scrambling. However, Tigers just about recover and clear.
8' - Atkinsons combine
Seb Atkinson pops a superb delayed pass to Charlie Atkinson who bursts through a gap and then flicks a ridiculous 10-metre back-door offload to Rob Russell on the wing. However, Tigers scramble well and Gloucester eventually concede a scrum.
5' - Gloucester survive
Leicester make a costly handling error which allows the visitors to clear. It's an early warning sign though...
3' - Big first win
Freddie Steward beats Charlie Atkinson to an aerial ball and Tom Whiteley doesn't miss a beat, slipping a kick down into the corner to heap pressure on Gloucester.
1' - Kick off
We're underway in Leicester!
Team news
With five minutes to go, both sides have plenty of stars returning for this clash - here's how the sides line up.
Leicester Tigers: Steward; Radwan, Perese, Kata, Hassell-Collins; Searle, Whiteley; Smith, Blamire, Heyes; Henderson, Wells; Thompson, Reffell, Moro. Replacements: Clare, Haffar, Hurd, Chessum, Williams; Van Poortvliet, Bailey, Woodward.
Gloucester: C Atkinson; Russell, Butler, S Atkinson, Thorley; Bryne, Williams; Rapava Ruskin, Blake, Laulala; Thomas, Clark; Basham, Ludlow, Clement. Replacements: Innard, Ford-Robinson, Fasogbon, Jordan, Taylor; Austin, Knight, Hathaway.
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'The Tigers break loose!' - Van Poortvliet goes over early for Leicester at Bath
Video credit: TNT Sports
T-10 minutes
Not long before we get underway at Mattioli Woods Welford Road! Remember, you can catch all the action live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+.
Last time out
If tonight's game can be anything like the pair of clashes that these sides served up last season - which ended an aggregate 64-60 to Gloucester - we'll be in for a cracker.
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Highlights: Gloucester lift Slater Cup after thrilling comeback win over Leicester
Video credit: TNT Sports
Turnover at Kingsholm
Gloucester made the huge announcement that Wales' superstar skipper Jac Morgan will be crossing the border to play at Kingsholm his international teammate Dewi Lake.
Meanwhile former Cherry and Wasps stalwart Dan Robson is heading home, though it's not all good news for Gloucester fans as last season's Gallagher PREM Player of the Season Tomos Williams is departing.
Around the grounds
The Gallagher PREM is back with a bang this weekend with another five games, all live on TNT Sports and discovery+...
Friday: Leicester Tigers v Gloucester - 19:45
Saturday: Northampton Saints v Sale Sharks - 15:00, Saracens v Exeter - 15:00, Harlequins v Bristol Bears - 18:00
Sunday: Newcastle Red Bulls v Bath - 15:00 (all UK time)
What is the Slater Cup?
The teams are battling to lift the Slater Cup today, named after Ed Slater who captained both clubs. Following his diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease, the sides first played for the trophy in February 2023 and today's game will be accompanied by fundraising for the ‘4Ed’ campaign.
And Gloucester captain Ludlow told TNT Sports that The Cherries will be trying to channel the fight that Slater showed and shows on and off the field tonight: "It's the Slater Cup, it's about Ed. There's a lot going on in the world and I said to the boys if we show the fight he showed, today, then we'll be good today."
Stars are back for Gloucester
Ross Byrne, Seb Atkinson, Nepo Laulau and Lewis Ludlow are among the Gloucester stars starting today who missed out against Munster.
Internationals return for Tigers
Izaia Perese is the only change to the starting lineup, but there are some big names returning to Tigers’ bench.
What rugby is on TNT Sports?
Watch the 2025/26 Gallagher PREM live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Hello and welcome!
To the battle for the Slater Cup as Leicester Tigers host Gloucester in the Gallagher PREM! The Midlands sides have had contrasting starts to the season as Geoff Parling’s could in theory go top of the table tonight, and have established themselves as firm contenders for a playoff berth.
Meanwhile Gloucester won notched their first league win of the season after the Quilter Nations Series break but remain second from bottom ahead of only pointless Newcastle.
However, the sides played out a close-fought pair of fixtures last season as Leicester won 29-26 before Gloucester exacted revenge so hopefully we’re in for another thriller today.
And if we are, you can watch it unfold on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ with kick-off at 19:45 UK time, while you can catch all the build-up live from Leicester RIGHT NOW! What are you waiting for?
Watch and stream the Gallagher PREM and Premiership Women's Rugby on TNT Sports and discovery+
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