EXETER and England outside centre Henry Slade has picked up the 2023/24 Premiership Player of the Season award following a standout campaign.
Slade bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on Steve Borthwick’s World Cup squad last year to lead a new-look Exeter side to within touching distance of the play-offs.
Slade, 31, took over the full-time goal kicking duties and slotted numerous match winning kicks to bring his end of season tally to 152 – including five tries – and claim the top points scorer award.
Slade’s form saw head coach Borthwick reinstate him as the starting 13 for all five of England’s Six Nations outings taking him to 57 caps.
Slade said: “I never even thought about a prize like this, the only thing I was ever thinking about was our game. We are moti- bank, James aim at the start ton Saints.”
playing as well as I could for Exeter every week and try and get back and play for England.”
Slade beat Northampton duo Courtney Lawes and Fin Smith, and Bath’s Finn Russell to the award.
Exeter team-mate Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was named Breakthrough Player of the Season, seeing off Harlequins pair Fin Baxter and Chandler Cunningham-South, and Newcastle’s Guy Pepper.
The 21-year-old winger scored 10 tries in 14 Premiership outings.
Northampton’s Phil Dowson was named director of rugby of the season after guiding his side to a top of the table finish and beat Bath’s J
