Henry Slade

Saracens coach Mark McCall called it one of the "greatest kicks of all time" – but Henry Slade's 60-metre touch finder in the 2017 Premiership Rugby semi-final merely underlined the talent that the Exeter Chiefs playmaker has within his skill-set.

Since making his first team debut against London Welsh in November 2012, the Plymouth-born back has been a central figure in the rise of the Chiefs. His booming left boot, his silky passing skills, plus his ability to create time and space with effortless ease, have won him many admirers within the modern-day game.

With over 200 appearances for the Devon club already accrued, Slade has excelled for both club and country.

A former pupil of Plymouth College, Slade was part of the Chiefs Academy from a young age and grew up alongside the likes of Luke Cowan-Dickie, Sam Hill and Jack Nowell. Together the quartet were all part of the England Under 20s side that lifted the Junior World Championship against Wales in 2012.

In the years that have followed, Slade not only established himself as a regular in the Chiefs first team, but his on-field form saw him win numerous honours, including the LV= Cup and Aviva Premiership title, and the RPA's Young Player of the Year award in 2015.

That same year he was part of the England squad for the Rugby World Cup, winning his first cap in a warm-up fixture against France, before scoring a try in a group stage clash against Uruguay.

Disaster struck Slade a few months later when he suffered a broken leg in a Premiership clash away to Wasps, but a remarkable recovery saw him return before the end of the season and he helped Chiefs to reach a first-ever Premiership final. Although Chiefs lost the 2016 showpiece to Saracens, they returned 12 months later and this time Slade was victorious, helping Exeter to see off Wasps in extra time.

Although still capable of filling in at fly-half, Slade has established himself as a world class centre for both Chiefs and England, whom he featured for at Rugby World Cups and helped to Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup glory.

In an unbelievable end to the 2020 season, Slade lifted a second Premiership title, as well as a maiden Champions Cup crown. A try in each final for the Chiefs merely added the gloss to a stunning campaign for him.