Slade says title win is 'amazing'

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs fly-half Henry Slade has described lifting the Junior World Championship as an "amazing feeling" after he was part of the England Under-20s side that sunk Wales in France tonight.

After a disappointing first half for the English - they trailed 15-3 at the break - they hit top form in the second period to run out 23-15 victors at Stade de la Rabine in Vannes.

Slade - one of five Exeter players in the England Under-20s squad - played a key role in the revival kicking three penalties and a conversion; whilst club-mates Jack Nowell and Sam Hill did the rest claiming England's two tries on the night.

Fellow Chief Luke Cowan-Dickie (pictured right) was another stand-out performer, whilst the fifth Exeter starlet Joel Conlon also played his part during the earlier rounds of the tournament.

Afterwards, Slade said: "It’s such an amazing feeling to win this trophy. It’s the last time we’ll play together as a group and we knew that we had one more performance left in us.

"We definitely did it the hard way, but we’re just buzzing to actually get the win.  Credit to the Welsh, they put up one hell of a fight – but we’ve done it, and I can’t wait for it to sink in!”

The win caps a magical campaign for England, who back in March also defeated Wales to land their third successive Six Nations title.

That success signalled the end to former head coach Rob Hunter's tenure in charge. Since then he has joined the Chiefs coaching staff on a full-time basis and it was his assistant Nick Walshe, who oversaw this latest triumph the other side of the Channel.

Walshe added: "I’m absolutely delighted. The lads certainly did it the hard way, but we showed real character in the second half and it’s amazing to get the win. We put a strong emphasis on performance, and in the second 40 we delivered.

"These guys have worked so hard, not only over the past few weeks, but over the course of the season, and they deserve their win.”