Exeter Chiefs centre Slade and his partner Megan are expecting their first child in 12 weeks, hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie has just had his first and winger Jack Nowell is expecting his second.
Slade says: “Before the lockdown myself and other guys like Luke and Jack Nowell were saying how we’d always been the younger lads of the team, but now only a few guys at the club have been around for longer.”
“The baby will bring a new dimension to my life – but I don’t want to be seen as an old boy!”
Slade, 27, also knows he will miss another of those older players, his longstanding Chiefs midfield comrade Sam Hill, below.
Slade adds: “It’s going to be a strange time with many players changing sides and I’m sorry to see Sam go to Sale. I played against him since I was ten and played with him since we were 14 or 15, so that’s been a long stint with one of my closest mates.”
Looking further head, Slade is convinced England’s potent mix of strength-in-depth and a drive for constant improvement will see Eddie Jones’ side eventually conquer the world.
Having twice suffered World Cup heartbreak in 2015 and 2019, gifted Exeter midfielder Slade is determined to be around to make it third time lucky at France 2023.
Denne historien er fra May 17, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra May 17, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy
TEN-TRY Exeter inflicted the backlash from six successive defeats in their worst ever start to a Premiership season on a young Pirates side suffering their own problems in the Championship.
South America look to keep on building
AS Sebastián Piñeyrúa's historic six-year term as President of Rugby Sudamérica comes to an end, his replacement shows no signs of slowing down.
Scarratt excited by new pathway
ENGLAND centurion Emily Scarratt is delighted with the new women's BUCS programme which aims to provide a smoother pathway for young aspiring female players.
Baxter: I want to make things better
ROB Baxter will not be walking away from Exeter, the only club still looking for a Premiership victory this season, believing he can get the Chiefs back on track and he cannot bear the thought of anyone else doing the job.
Pearce walks in his father's footsteps
PADDY Pearce is living a dream after emulating his father and great-uncle by playing for the club he supported as a boy, Bristol.
New England group will cause uncertainty
SO JUST when we thought that everything was getting sorted between the RFU, the clubs and players, a number of new agreements and a new group raises its head.
Galthie turns his sights to the future
FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie offered the clearest hint yet of Les Bleus' future on Wednesday, when he released 19 players back F to their clubs for the ninth and final Top 14 round before the international break.
Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson
CAMERON Anderson has hailed the impact made by defence coach Jason Gilmore, below, since he arrived at The Stoop in the summer.
Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath
BATH secured a thumping away success in the opening match of their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Ampthill at Dillingham Park.
New faces take the plaudits for Saints
NORTHAMPTON handed out a thorough lesson to a tame Leicester team in this one-sided East Midlands derby to launch the Premiership Cup.
