Rob Baxter delivers an encouraging update on Henry Slade’s future
3 hours ago
Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter has indicated the club is nearing an agreement on a new contract for Henry Slade, the England centre who is currently out of contract at the end of the season.
Plymouth-born 32-year-old Slade is among England players on an enhanced squad deal and is approaching his 250th appearance for the Chiefs, a milestone he could reach in a forthcoming clash with Saracens later this month.
Baxter described talks with Slade—who appeared in only one of England’s four Autumn Nations Series fixtures, the win over Argentina two weeks ago—as productive, with a positive outcome anticipated within the next few weeks.
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Baxter also stressed that he always believed Slade would stay, even amid the broader discussions around the controversial R360 league, which has been postponed for now and rescheduled to begin in 2028.
“Henry feels very settled here, and I don’t think every decision is purely about money. I’d be surprised if Henry left. We’re fairly far along in discussions and hope to have everything sorted soon,” he said.
“R360 wasn’t something I was overly worried about, to be honest, from the Exeter Chiefs’ perspective. Our aim is to keep the best players playing in England for English clubs.
“Maintaining a strong domestic competition benefits us as a Premiership club, and that’s a positive development to focus on.”
Baxter added that a large portion of those involved in top-level rugby had sensed for some time that significant progress for the league would be challenging, a reality that planning had accounted for more than some may realize.
