Leicester rally to beat Gloucester at Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Leicester Tigers recovered to beat Gloucester at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in the Premiership on 9 October 2026, securing their first home victory of the season.

They also retained the Slater Cup.

Leicester fell behind after a slow start when Billy Searle was sin-binned. Jac Morgan and Dian Bleuler both touched down for Gloucester during that period. The Tigers fought back with first-half tries from Finn Carnduff, Joe Heyes and Jamie Blamire to lead 21-14 at the interval.

In the second half Aaron Wainwright and Ollie Hassell-Collins scored for Leicester. Will Trenholm crossed for Gloucester between those two Tigers scores. The pair of Leicester tries proved sufficient to secure the victory.

Jack Innard went over late for Gloucester. George Barton landed an 82nd-minute penalty. Gloucester earned two late bonus points and were beaten for the first time this season.

The match was watched by the Duke of Sussex. The Slater Cup is a trophy that honours former Gloucester and Tigers captain Ed Slater. Ed Slater retired in 2022 after being diagnosed Motor Neurone Disease in 2022.

Tries: Carnduff, Heyes, Blamire, Wainwright, Hassell-Collins. Cons: Searle 5. Pens: Searle.

Tries: Morgan, Bleuler, Trenholm, Innard. Cons: Englefield 2, Barton 2. Pens: Barton.

Leicester Tigers: Steward; Hamer-Webb, Wand, Bailey, Hassell-Collins; Searle; Van Poortvliet (c); Van der Flier, Blamire, Heyes; Carnduff, Henderson, Wainwright, Reffell, Cracknell.

Replacements: Moli, Vunipola, Hurd, Thompson, Moro, Whiteley, Woodward, Radwan.

Gloucester: Redshaw; Thorley, Joseph, Atkinson, Loader; Atkinson, Englefield; Bleuler, Lake (c), Fasogbon; Kleyn, Thomas, Ludlow, Morgan, Trenholm. Replacements: Innard, Bellamy, Knight, Clement, Gwynne, Robson, Llewellyn, Barton.

Despite the defeat, Gloucester remain top of the Premiership after earning two late bonus points.