"Inspiring Duo" - Ed Slater and Abi Burton Win Rugby Players Association Award - Ruck
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“Inspiring Duo” – Ed Slater and Abi Burton Win Rugby Players Association Award

18 May 2023
Tom Sansom

Former Gloucester Rugby player Ed Slater has been presented as a co-winner of the 2023 Blyth Spirit Award, at this year’s Rugby Players Association awards evening. The award is presented to those individuals within rugby, who present courage within the face of adversity.

Ed Slater of Gloucester Rugby wins the line out during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Gloucester Rugby and Sale Sharks at Kingsholm Stadium on January 2, 2020 in Gloucester, England. (Photo by Tom Sandberg/PPAUK/Gallagher)

Slater has been honoured with this award, as he continues to battle resiliently through life, despite his recent Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis. The devastating news Slater received in July 2022, led to his immediate retirement from rugby, however, Slater’s admirability to stay strong and keep moving forward, is presented within the success of the amazing ‘4ED Campaign’.

Slater shares the Blyth Spirit Award with former England Sevens star Abi Burton, who recently underwent a prolonged battle with an autoimmune illness. Just one year on from when the Olympian played against Fiji in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics Bronze Medal Final, Burton was omitted into hospital, and was re-learning how to walk and talk.

Abi Burton of Wasps Women evades the tackle from Lagi Tuima of Harlequins Women during the Allianz Premier 15s Match between Harlequins Women and Wasps Women at Twickenham Stadium on 27 December 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

Former winners of the award include the late great Jonah Lomu, and England Rugby coach Kevin Sinfield, who’s recent heroics saw him carry former Leeds Rhino teammate Rob Burrow’s over the Leeds Marathon finish line.

“I’m sharing the award with Abi who has also gone through a hell of a lot.” Slater said to the Daily Mail. “Recognition of the challenges you’re going through and the challenges you have ahead of you is important to me and my family because we’ve got to live it day-to-day.

“There are so many different things that consume you but to get the support I’ve had from the rugby community has given me a lot of strength and reason to push the message for MND.

‘I’ve been blown away by it. I’ve also met lots of other people suffering with MND who don’t have a platform so I’m speaking just as much for them as I am for myself.”

Josh Beaumont of Sale Sharks wins the line out from Ed Slater of Gloucester Rugby during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Gloucester Rugby and Sale Sharks at Kingsholm Stadium on January 2, 2020 in Gloucester, England. (Photo by Tom Sandberg/PPAUK/Gallagher)

Burton was taken into hospital after suffering a seizure, which had a significant impact upon her day to day life. After tests, Burton was diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis. This illness breaks out when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the brain, and caused the Wasps star to fall into a coma for more than three weeks. BBC Sport reported.

Abi Burton of Wasps Women on the break between Rachael Burford, Captain of Harlequins Women and Lagi Tuima of Harlequins Women during the Allianz Premier 15s Match between Harlequins Women and Wasps Women at Twickenham Stadium on 27 December 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

Thankfully, Burton has been able to continue on the road to recovery, and was honoured with the award for persevering through her battles.