Andy Deacon, the one-time Gloucester captain and current director of rugby at Longlevens, likes a challenge.

And he’s certainly taking on a challenge at the end of the month because he’s one of a number of ex-Gloucester players who will be cycling from Kingsholm to Villa Park to raise money for the 4Ed Foundation.

Mike Teague, Mike Tindall, James Simpson-Daniel, Phil Vickery, Trevor Woodman and Pate Glanville are some of the other former Gloucester players expected to take part in the 45-mile ride which will see the cyclists arrive in Birmingham ahead of the Gallagher Prem clash between Gloucester and Leicester on Saturday 28^th March (kick-off 1pm).

The 60-year-old Deacon readily admits he is not an experienced cyclist but the ex-prop insists he’ll be ready on the big day.

“I’m hard in training, it’s time in the saddle,” he said. "I’ve been training with Pete Glanville, he’s done a lot of cycling.”

The ride to Villa Park won’t be for the faint-hearted because the Gloucester team, who will be captained by Tindall, will be competing against a team of ex-Leicester Tigers players in what is being called The Race for the Slater Cup.

The Leicester team will be led by former England and British Lions captain Martin Johnson and they will be cycling 45 miles from Welford Road to Villa Park, with both teams hoping to be the first to arrive at Aston Villa Football Club.

“Johnson is an extremely good cyclist, Martin Corry too,” said Deacon. “So are Austin Healey and Jim Hamilton.”

All four are all big cycling enthusiasts and Deacon says he is getting the cycling bug too.

“Hopefully it’s something I will carry on doing,” he said. “It’s been good training with Glanners [Pete Glanville] again, talking about the old days.

“I’ve also had a lot of help from Rich Molloy who I’ve borrowed a bike from. He’s a triathlete and he’s given me plenty of advice.”

And Deacon is a willing learner.

These days he is also an enthusiastic runner and when he spoke to The Local Answer he’d just completed the Cirencester 10K in 57 minutes, 48 seconds.

He was raising money for Cirencester Foodbank and he said: “I like walking, I like running, now I like cycling.”

The 4Ed Foundation supports anyone living with Motor Neurone Disease or caring for someone who is living with MND.

Established by former Gloucester and Leicester second row Ed Slater after his diagnosis in 2022, the foundation provides grants, compassion and community to individuals and families affected by MND, covering vital equipment, home adaptations, access to medical care and much-needed respite or family time.

Half the proceeds from the cycle ride will go to the 4Ed Foundation and the other half will go to Lewis Moody and/or his chosen charity.

“It’s a really good cause,” said Deacon. “MND and how it affects families is tragic. Anything we can do to help we will, it’s all about raising money.”

Gloucester and Leicester have been competing for The Slater Cup, named after Ed Slater who captained both clubs, since the 2022/23 season. 

Moody was diagnosed with MND late last year.