Slade: I'm happy to stay a Chief

HENRY Slade is set to reject the advances of clubs on the other side of the English Channel and pledge his future to the Exeter Chiefs.

- MARK STEVENS

The England centre is out of contract at the end of the current campaign, but says it will not be long before he signs a new long-term deal.

"I'm finalising and sorting a few things, nothing has been signed yet," said Slade. "We've had some good chats, so hopefully it'll be sorted soon. I'm pretty confident I'll be here next year.

"I love playing for the Chiefs, my parents get to come and watch me every other week, so it's little things like that which mean a lot to me." Part and parcel of the club's make-up since making his debut in 2012, the 31-year-old has played a pivotal role in the rise of the Chiefs from Premiership newbies to that of double champions eight years later.

He was part of a golden generation that was unearthed through the club's academy ranks, teaming up with the likes of Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dave Ewers, Sam Hill and Jack Nowell to form the backbone of Exeter's recent success.

However, three of the aforementioned were among a clutch of big-name departures from Sandy Park last summer. In effect, the group was disbanding, destined for pastures new. Slade, though, has remained and using the hurt of missing out on last year’s World Cup, he has helped provided the driving force for the new-look Chiefs to attack this season.