The Rob Baxter update on the future of Henry Slade at Exeter
Rob Baxter has confirmed that one of his crown jewels, England outside centre Henry Slade, will stay with Exeter Chiefs when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Slade spoke to Top 14 leaders Stade Francais after being left out of his country’s Rugby World Cup squad earlier this season, but he has since forced his way back into Steve Borthwick’s plans and was a mainstay of their Guinness Six Nations squad.
The recently turned 31-year-old played 345 minutes in the championship, including full games against Italy and Wales. With the tournament now over, the Chiefs have given him this week off and he has taken his family away for a sunshine break in Dubai.
Slade, who has played over 200 games for the Chiefs, is likely to be given a £160,000 hybrid contract by the RFU to top up his Exeter salary, making it more attractive for him to stay in the Premiership and turn his back on France.
Asked at a media briefing on Wednesday if he is confident he would still have Slade in his Gallagher Premiership squad next season, Baxter replied yes.
“I cannot officially say that he is staying because I can’t show you the signed contract. Yes, I would say. But I’ll let everyone know what it is signed, sealed and delivered. Henry has been playing and training like a young man.
“We are watching the Henry Slade of five or six years ago. That’s down to Henry deciding to do that. That’s a credit to him. He brings a lot of leadership and experience and keeps things on track. He has become the pivot point in the England system.”
Baxter added that Slade had been given a week off by the club and will miss Saturday’s visit to Sandy Park by Newcastle, the Premiership’s basement side who are now under the management of Steve Diamond and seeking the first win of their league season.
The Chiefs will also rest Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins, the player who made the most tackles out of anyone in the Six Nations. Baxter explained that he would instead come back in for the trip to Sale Sharks on Sunday week.
“Obviously, Dafydd did get breaks during the Six Nations with the rest weeks, but we feel that it is the right thing to do. He is a very proud young man and obviously, it’s hurt him – and it will hurt him for a little while,” he said about a campaign that ended with Wales losing all five of their matches.
“That is why I thought it was important to give him a break but at the same time, I know it will do him some good to get on with training and playing without the exposure he gets when captaining Wales.
However, Baxter does expect to welcome back newly-capped England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. The first-year medical student missed England’s defeat to France in Lyon after diagnosing himself with concession following their win over Ireland.
Feyi-Waboso, who has penned a new long-term contract with the club, has enjoyed a breakout season with the Chiefs. He scored six tries in 14 games and is making progress with the return-to-play protocols.
“We have got plenty of time, but he is ticking off the boxes. He is moving through the end stages of the physical activity with no symptoms. So he is pretty much there. If he continues to tick those boxes, he will be available to play.
“I’m delighted for him. It was a big call for him to choose England. People probably underestimated how big a decision it was for him to make. He took the England path and fair play to the guy. It’s paid off for him.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments