By Coventry Rugby 
Champ Rugby will witness a landmark moment on Saturday 20 December 2025, when Coventry Rugby and Nottingham Rugby meet in Round 11 of the Champ at Butts Park Arena, kicking off at 15:00. The fixture marks the launch of the first-ever Matt Gallagher Cup – a new annual contest paying tribute to a player whose career bridged both clubs and whose legacy now extends into meaningful charitable work.
The Cup isn’t just about rugby rivalry and history – it has been established to raise awareness for the Matt Gallagher Foundation and support its work within the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) community.
A New Tradition: Home-and-Away Cup Fixtures Every Season
From 2025 onwards, every season’s meeting between Coventry and Nottingham will carry added significance. The Cup will be contested twice per season, with both clubs’ home fixtures counting as separate matches for the trophy.
Honouring a Distinguished Career
Matt Gallagher joined Nottingham in 1993 as a 20-year-old full-back from Birmingham Solihull, arriving alongside close friend and teammate Andy Smallwood. Over three seasons, he made 66 appearances and scored 204 points, quickly becoming a key player for the club.
During his time at Nottingham, he also featured in consecutive County Championship finals at Twickenham for Warwickshire – performances that earned him a move to Coventry in 1996.
At Coventry, Gallagher’s career flourished. He debuted in a season that saw the club make the playoffs, including a notable victory over a star-studded Newcastle Falcons side, before narrowly losing to London Irish. In total, he amassed 100 appearances for Coventry, establishing himself as a centurion and a respected figure across the rugby community.
He later returned to Birmingham Solihull -the club where it all began – playing two more seasons before retiring in 2003, having played well over 200 Championship games in total.
Today, Gallagher remains active in the rugby world, helping run Coventry’s Former Players Association and maintaining strong ties across the rugby community.
Supporting the MND Community: The Foundation’s Mission
Since his diagnosis in October 2023, Matt established the Matt Gallagher Foundation to support people living with MND and their families – particularly in the West Midlands, where help is often limited.
The Foundation aims to provide practical, immediate support – from funding mobility equipment and home adaptations to offering respite and financial assistance, as well as supporting non-paid carers.
Beyond financial aid, the organisation seeks to build a community around those affected by MND – offering dignity, hope, and solidarity.
Fundraising on Matchday
Supporters attending the inaugural Cup fixture at Butts Park Arena will have the opportunity to contribute directly to the Foundation’s MND support projects:
- Foundation volunteers will be bucket collecting around the stadium throughout matchday.
- A dedicated GoFundMe page for the Matt Gallagher Cup is also being set up by the Foundation.
More information on the fundraising campaign will be released soon.
The Matt Gallagher Cup represents the best of rugby – rivalry, respect, and community spirit. It celebrates a player who gave so much to both Coventry and Nottingham while supporting a cause that touches lives far beyond the pitch.
Matt Gallagher Foundation: Website
@themattgallagherfoundat10n – Instagram
@themattgallagherfoundation – Facebook
Match day tickets: www.coventryrugby.co.uk/tickets/
