England Under 20s

Henry Slade

Key Facts

Squad	Exeter Chiefs
Position	Fly half
Age	20
Height	1.9m (6'3")
Weight	86kg (13st 7lb)
Caps	U20: 12

Ivybridge RFC, of Western Counties West, is the constant thread running through the playing days of Henry Slade, who took up the game there ten years ago and was involved with the club until 2010. He is now a member of the Exeter Chiefs Senior Academy, has been on a dual registration with Plymouth Albion and amassed 65 points in the 2013 RBS U20 Six Nations after being man of the match against Scotland in the opening game at Plymouth.

Having studied biology, physical education and graphic design at Plymouth College in his home city, Henry is reading for a BSc in Sports & Exercise Science at Exeter University. He has represented South West U18, Combined Academies U17 and scored a try and landed two conversions in his second of ten matches for England U18 in the 66-19 win over France at George in July 2010.

He had previously started the game against the Namibia Invitation XV at East London and later figured as a replacement against South Africa at Port Elizabeth. Henry also contributed two conversions, again off the bench, in the 29-12 victory over Ireland at Donnybrook in December 2010 before scoring 16 points in the 64-0 win over Italy U19 at Sale two months later.

Henry switched to centre for the subsequent game against Scotland before reverting to fly half against Wales in Auch and landing two conversions and a penalty. He took his points’ total to 30 in 2010-11 with another penalty against Ireland at Tarbes in April. More international experience followed with appearances in all three England U18 matches in Sydney in August 2011.

He was among seven try-scorers in the 46-19 triumph over Australia Schools. Henry made his England U20 debut off the bench in the 40-9 win over Wales at Twickenham Stoop in February last year and landed three conversions in the 42-7 victory over Italy at Rovigo. His maiden try at that level was against Ireland in the IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa in June 2012.

Backtracking, he captained South Devon U14 and, looking ahead, he wants to become a Premiership player and win the Rugby World Cup with England. Past mentors are England U18 head coach John Fletcher, Paul Setter and Adrian Coles at Ivybridge and Richard Edwards, Richard Thompson and Scott Williams at Plymouth College. Present ones feature Ricky Pellow, Ali Hepher and Keith Fleming at Exeter Chiefs.

His list of trophies and competition wins is impressive with both Plymouth College and Ivybridge. He helped the college to become National Preparatory School champions in 2004, Blundell’s Sevens winners four years later and West England U16 Sevens champions and Devon Cup winners (2009), followed by the Kelly College 10s title last year.

Henry’s ‘Ivybridge triumphs’ include lifting the Devon Cup in three consecutive age groups from U14 upwards between 2007-09 and being crowned the Devon Sevens champions at U14 and U15 levels in 2007-08. His great uncle Geoff Williamson also excelled on the football field for Portsmouth.

Dan Carter, Jonny Wilkinson and Quade Cooper are players admired by Henry, who appeared at wing, inside centre and full back before moving to fly half. He was previously educated at Ugborough Primary in South Devon and Plymouth College Preparatory School in the west of the county and his favourite ground is Sandy Park, the home of Exeter Chiefs.