Henry Slade World Cup Snub Sparks Premiership Triumph

Henry Slade exclusion from the England World Cup squad by Steve Borthwick motivated him to excel and earn the title of Premiership player of the season. Despite feeling devastated initially, Slade took time to process his emotions, and Rob Baxter, Exeter director of rugby, granted him a week off. During this period, Henry Slade reflected on his desire to return to the international scene and devised a plan to achieve that goal. He chose to focus on the fundamentals that had brought him past success, committing himself to daily improvement and giving his best for Exeter.

Slade’s perseverance paid off as he played a pivotal role in leading an inexperienced Exeter Chiefs side that had undergone significant changes in the summer. Despite the departure of long-serving stars, Slade opted to stay and guide the next generation of Exeter players. His performances on the field were exceptional leading the league with 152 points and five tries.

As a result of his outstanding contributions, Slade earned a recall to the England squad for the Six Nations, where he started in all five matches. He expressed gratitude for the hard work of his teammates, who provided him with opportunities to shine. Being named in the Six Nations squad was a significant achievement for him and he was overjoyed with the outcome.

The news of Slade’s nomination for the Premiership player of the season came as a pleasant surprise to him. He had never anticipated such recognition, as his focus had solely been on playing his best for Exeter and earning a place back in the England team.

Overall, Slade’s World Cup omission drove him to excel, earning him the Premiership player of the season title.