Gloucester Rugby has cancelled plans to stage its annual Slater Cup fixture against Leicester Tigers at Aston Villa’s Villa Park following widespread criticism from supporters.
The fixture was held at the Premier League ground for the first time last season, with discounted tickets helping push attendance past 20,000, roughly half the stadium’s full capacity.
Despite the attendance milestone, fan feedback was largely negative, prompting the club to rethink its approach to the high-profile annual fixture.
Gloucester confirmed the Slater Cup will return to its traditional home at Kingsholm Stadium for the 2026/27 season after what it described as a thorough review.
“Following a thorough review of the event, including extensive feedback from supporters and stakeholders, the club has decided that the Slater Cup will return to Kingsholm for the 2026/27 season,” Gloucester told fans.
The club also cited upcoming construction work at Villa Park as a contributing factor to its decision to abandon the venue after just one season.
“This decision has also been influenced by significant stadium developments planned at Villa Park over the coming months,” the club added in its statement to supporters.
Villa Park is currently undergoing a £100m expansion of its North Stand, which is set to increase capacity to beyond 50,000 ahead of the 2028 European Championships, with works having been in the pipeline for several years.
Gloucester chief executive Alex Brown acknowledged the experience at Villa Park had produced useful lessons, despite the ultimate decision to return to Kingsholm.
“The experience at Villa Park provided valuable learning and reinforced the opportunities that big game fixtures can create in terms of growing our reach, attracting new audiences, and strengthening Gloucester Rugby’s position for the future,” Brown said.
Brown also stressed the club’s immediate focus would be on improving the matchday experience at its home ground while keeping future big game possibilities open.
“As we look ahead, our focus is on delivering the best possible matchday experience for our supporters at Kingsholm, while continuing to explore opportunities that support the long-term growth of the club, which may well include future big games,” he said.
The news comes after Gloucester announced a 450 per cent hike in losses earlier this year, adding further financial pressure to the club’s decision-making around marquee events.
Gloucester’s withdrawal from Villa Park does not signal the end of big game fixtures across the Premiership, with several clubs maintaining plans to stage matches at major venues this season.
Harlequins will continue to host their annual big game and summer kick-off matches at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, while Bristol Bears are set to stage their big day out fixture at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Saracens are also scheduled to host their major fixture at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, keeping the broader trend of rugby clubs using football grounds alive across the top flight.