Slade sets his sights high

By Mark Stevens

In the sweltering summer heat, Henry Slade was as cool as ever as he emerged for media duties this week at England’s luxurious Surrey training base.

The Exeter Chiefs playmaker had just undergone a gruelling gym session at the Red Rose’s multi-million pound facility at Pennyhill Park, before readying himself for an afternoon of equally hard labour under the gaze of head coach Stuart Lancaster.

With just over a week until Lancaster prepares to trim his initial 50-man training squad to a more manageable 30 or so, 22-year-old Slade admits he’s fully focused on the task ahead as he dreams of being part of England’s grand plans this autumn.

Slade is one of four Exeter Chiefs players all vying to be included – initially for England’s upcoming high altitude training camp in Denver – and then the main event itself, which begins in earnest against Fiji at Twickenham Stadium on September 18.

“It’s really exciting,” said Slade. “We know it’s going to be a tough summer and all of us here are striving for one of those spots in the squad. It’s obviously a massive carrot at the end of the summer, but it’s something to push towards.”



Although Slade has yet to be fully capped at senior level, the Plymouth-born star has featured for England in a number of non-Test clashes, as well as for the Saxons and the England management clearly like what they see from the gifted back.

Like every player within the current England structure – Jack Nowell, Geoff Parling and Luke Cowan-Dickie also carry hopes from Exeter – Slade knows it’s the hard work he puts in now that can ultimately prove the difference.

“We have a week and a half until that Denver trip, so I’m just trying to get on that plane,” said Slade. “Once you are there, that is where even more hard work will start. It will be a tough couple of weeks out there in the heat and altitude, so if you can make it through that and do well out there, then the next squad is probably the next aim.

“We all know there are not many spots up for grabs and there are quite a few boys here, so there is going to be some disappointment. From what I have seen from training so far, whoever doesn’t get picked is going to be pretty unlucky, simply because there is not a lot in it to be honest.”

However, having enjoyed a stellar past season with the Chiefs – Slade was crowned both the Premiership and Rugby Players’ Association Young Player of the Year – there are many pundits who are tipping the man himself to be part of Lancaster’s final mix.

As ever, Slade is somewhat reluctant to glow in his own self-praise, instead he looks very much at the bigger picture and the role the Chiefs have played in his emergence in recent times.

“The way we have been going as a squad at Exeter, particularly last season, I think it has helped to push a few of us into this squad,” added Slade. “Just missing out on the play-offs and being around the top of the table for so long, I think it shows we must be doing something right down at the club.



“The aim for all of us moving forward is to maintain those levels at least, but probably look to push on ever further next year.

“As I’ve said before, it’s exciting times for the players and the club and we’re learning from each situation we have been in. I think because we’re relatively new to this environment – we’ve only been in the Premiership for five seasons – every situation, every new scenario we’re learning from and we’re all the better for it.

“The last few years especially have shown the progress we’ve made, things like winning the LV= Cup, getting our best-ever finish in the Premiership, it all makes a difference and hopefully next year we can go one stage further again.”

Life with the Chiefs, though, will be temporarily put on the back burner for Slade, whose goal now has to be to impress England on all fronts.

As you would expect, training and competition for places at the top end is at another level again and no quarter will be given by anyone as they look to make their mark.

“Training here probably is up another notch from the Chiefs because it is international level,” continued Slade. “That said, at Exeter the training is of a high intensity and of a high quality too and I think that training does help us when we come here.”