Rob Baxter gives an insight into 'frustrated' Henry Slade contract talks

Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter has said that the club have opened contract talks with England outside centre Henry Slade, whose current deal expires at the end of the season.

Plymouth-born Slade, 32, has been in outstanding form for the Chiefs this season and has scored five tries in their last three Gallagher PREM games, and is the leading points scorer with 78 points in all competitions.

Slade, who has made 246 appearances for the Chiefs and won 74 England caps, is one of the players on an RFU hybrid contract and last month told RugbyPass that he was ready to pledge the rest of his career to the Sandy Park outfit.

“I love playing here. My family is from here. You can almost see my house from here. You never know what Rob (Baxter) is going to offer me or what is elsewhere. But I am more than happy here.”

Slade has been left on the sidelines by England coach Steve Borthwick for their first two games in the Quilter Nations Series against Australia and Fiji, and Baxter doesn’t believe they will affect contract talks.

“We are literally just starting that process now. Every player has different motivations at different times of their career, and I don’t know if England picking him in the autumn internationals is the single biggest factor.

“He is well looked after, he has a family home here and a young family there are plenty of motivations to stay. We are only just starting these conversations, and I don’t want to put words into Henry’s mouth.

“He will know how he feels, and that will happen down the line. We will tick along quietly in the background and go about our business. I’ve not been in a huge rush and wanted time to assess where we are,” he said.

Baxter admits that he doesn’t believe that Slade will be released in time to play for the Chiefs in their PREM Rugby Cup clash at Sale Sharks on Friday if he misses out on selection with England again this week.

“He is fit. Obviously, he is a little frustrated. He is a competitive animal and is doing everything he can with England, and pops back at the end of the week for a little bit of training with the guys.

“He is ready to go as soon as game time is asked of him. I wouldn’t have thought he will play for us in the PREM Cup because the players are only released relatively late and we play on Friday.

“It’s not ideal. You fall into the squad but not quite into the team, and end up in this type of ground. And to be fair, it means that he isn’t getting injured, which is a positive,” added Baxter.