Leicester Tigers prop Will Hurd managed to balance a demanding international rugby schedule with significant personal commitments during a busy summer. Eligible to play for Scotland through his grandmother despite being born in Leicestershire, the 27-year-old participated in Scotland's Six Nations Championship campaign while fitting in extensive travel and a wedding.
Hurd’s summer involved a week-long training camp in Madrid, followed by a brief return to England to marry his partner Stella in Somerset. Within 48 hours of the ceremony, he was back on the move, flying to Argentina for Scotland’s international fixtures. Reflecting on the hectic schedule, Hurd described a surreal moment spent alone at Sao Paulo airport shortly after his wedding, underscoring the challenges professional rugby players face in managing personal and professional commitments. His wife was also pregnant at the time, adding to the intensity of the period.
On the club front, Hurd is part of the Leicester Tigers squad preparing to face Gloucester in the ninth edition of the Slater Cup on Friday evening. The match honours former lock Ed Slater, who played for both clubs before being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2022. Proceeds from the game will support the charity 4ED, which helps those affected by the condition. Hurd is named on the bench behind England tighthead Joe Heyes.
Leicester’s team will be without club captain Ollie Chessum due to a foot injury, but head coach Geoff Parling welcomes back hooker Jamie Blamire, loosehead prop Archie van der Flier, and lock Finn Carnduff to the starting lineup. The Tigers’ XI will be led by scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet, with full-back Freddie Steward also in the side.
Gloucester arrive at Welford Road on the back of a strong start to the Premiership season, surprising many by defeating Exeter Chiefs away and then thrashing Harlequins 48-0. The club has bolstered its squad with high-profile recruits including Wales hooker Dewi Lake, who now captains the team, flanker Jac Morgan, and lock Jean Kleyn, who has been capped internationally by both South Africa and Ireland. Former Tigers forwards coach Brett Deacon joined Gloucester over the summer and has already been credited with adding physicality and aggression to their play.
Hurd acknowledged the impact of Deacon’s presence at Gloucester, anticipating a game with an emphasis on physical encounters. The Slater Cup fixture presents both clubs with a competitive challenge and a chance to support an important cause.