The '745 Game', which will be played on 17th November, is the brainchild of former league and union stars Rob Burrow and Ed Slater. Tragically, Burrow passed away earlier this year at 41 after a long battle with Motor Neurone Disease, while Slater is continuing his heroic battle with MND since his diagnosis in 2022.
The event pays tribute to Burrow, Slater and Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir, who also succumbed to MND two years ago at the age of 52. The name represents the shirt numbers these three MND heroes wore in their playing careers, and money raised will go towards all three men's MND-related charities.
Commenting on the upcoming match, former Gloucester and Leicester second row Slater said: “It is brilliant that we are able to put the game on and I know all the former players I have spoken to are looking forward to putting their boots back on to support the MND community.”
The format of The 745 Game will blend elements of both rugby unions and league, including 13 players per side, unlimited tackles in their own half, and a maximum of six tackles in attack after crossing the halfway line. There will also be uncontested scrums and lineouts, with five points awarded for a try and two points for conversions and drop goals, the same as that of rugby union.
A host of well-known rugby figures from both codes are set to participate, including union stars Danny Cipriani, Billy Twelvetrees and Tom Youngs, alongside league legends Keith Senior, Adrian Morley and Danny McGuire.
Slater’s team will take to the field in a special cherry and white kit (a nod to his club side Gloucester), designed by his children, while Burrow’s side will wear a yellow kit, inspired by the design created by his children in 2022.
The match will be officiated by a joint team of referees from both rugby codes. Rugby league referee Ben Thaler and rugby union referee Frank Murphy—who previously played alongside Slater at Leicester—will lead the officiating team. In tribute to Doddie Weir, all officials will wear kits adorned with Weir’s signature tartan pattern.
When asked about where the idea came from, Slater said: "It was nearly a year ago that Rob and I were talking about putting this match on and he was really excited about seeing it happen. It feels really fitting that the game will be at AMT Headingley because of how special that stadium was for Rob.”
Burrow made his mark on the number seven shirt in rugby league and wore it with distinction. His illustrious a career saw him claim eight Super League titles, two Challenge Cups and three World Club Challenge wins – all in 492 appearances with Leeds Rhinos. Diminiutive in stature, he was a giant of a man in the way he tackled opposition and later also his Motor Neurone Disease, not once taking a backwards step since his diagnosis in 2019.
The fixture will be a landmark event in the history of rugby, bringing together the two codes in a new way. Unlike past cross-code matches, which split the game into halves played under rugby union and league rules, this game introduces a blended set of rules to create a fresh and competitive experience.
Memorably, Bath and Wigan took each other on in a two-match inter-code contest in 1996, which you can read more about here.
Tickets for the 745 Game can be purchased here.
