Slade: I’m happy to stay a Chief
EXETER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 05: Henry Slade of Exeter Chiefs with the ball during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Exeter Chiefs and Bristol Bears at Sandy Park on November 05, 2023 in Exeter, England. (Photo by Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)
ON THE BLINDSIDE
Henry Slade is set to reject the advances of clubs on the other side of the English Channel and pledge his future to the Exeter Chiefs.
The England centre is out of contract at the end of the current campaign, but says it will not be long before he signs a new long-ter m deal.
“I'm finalising and sorting a few things, nothing has been signed yet,” said Slade. “We've had some good chats, so hopefully it'll be sorted soon. I'm pretty confident I'll be here next year.
“I love playing for the Chiefs, my parents get to come and watch me every other week, so it's little things like that which mean a lot to me.”
Part and parcel of the club's make-up since making his debut in 2012, the 31-year-old has played a pivotal role in the rise of the Chiefs from Premiership newbies to that of double champions eight years later.
He was part of a golden generation that was unearthed through the club's academy ranks, teaming up with the likes of Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dave Ewers, Sam Hill and Jack Nowell to form the backbone of Exeter's recent success.
However, three of the aforementioned were among a clutch of big-name departures from Sandy Park last summer. In effect, the group was disbanding, destined for pastures new. Slade, though, has remained and using the hurt of missing out on last year's World Cup, he has helped provided the driving force for the new-look Chiefs to attack this season.
“It was strange,” he said. “Some of my best mates in life and rugby were heree last season, but they've gone onto different places and seem to be enjoying themselves and doing really well. It was tough to see those boys go, but sport moves on quickly.
“We've got a new group this year, a much younger group, I feel like one of the elder statesmen, but I think it's been a really positive year. Any side will miss those characters and their ability on the pitch, but I think we've got some really good talent ourselves and for some of the boys who have been waiting in the wings, they've had their chance and they've taken it with both hands.”
Equally, Slade has taken his own chance in the wake of his surprise axing from Steve Borthwick's World Cup mix. “When I wasn't there in the summer, I was pissed off,” said Slade. “It gave me a desire and drive to right some wrongs and prove people wrong, I wanted to get back in the mix.
“I was a bit emotional before the opening game against Italy. When you're in it, you know how much you love it and how important it is to you, but it's not clear until it's gone. I'm not going to hide there are significant financial implications playing for England, but that's not the main driver – it's a part of it as it's a life decision, you've got family.
“Moving did go through my head, but I do love being here. It'll take something big to change that. There are no central contracts yet, so you can't rely on that money, but the draw is playing for England on the biggest stage, against the best players, playing in front of massive crowds. The Six Nations is a massive tour nament to be part of and I do love that.”
Slade showed during the recent tour nament that he can be a key part of Borthwick's attacking arsenal moving forward.
“It does make it a bit more exciting now that I can bring a few more of my main attributes to the England shirt, rather than previously where I've done things that aren't necessarily fully to my strengths. I feel like I can put myself a bit more there now,” added Slade, who said there has been a definitive ‘flip' in attacking approach following England's loss to Scotland.
“It was definitely a discussion; we're the people that have to do it so it's a two-way thing, but driven by the coaches, especially Richard Wigglesworth (attack coach), it's us boys that have to do it on the pitch and call it.
“Although it might not look like it, we've been working on attack for a long time. In a big Test match you don't get a lot of time or space, but we were just brave with what we were doing. We saw the benefits of that in the Ireland game and we took the confidence of that into France and attacked pretty well there. I feel it's a corner turned, and I'd hope, If I was involved in the summer, we could pick up where we left off and crack on.”
