Slade among 7 reported omissions from England Rugby World Cup squad

Henry Slade is among seven players that are reported to have missed out on Steve Borthwick 33-man Rugby World Cup squad – which is due to be revealed to the public tomorrow.

It is understood that the players that are being dropped were informed today (Sunday) by Borthwick, with both The Times and The Telegraph running stories on who is set to miss out.

The news of the 30-year-old’s omission comes as something of a shock to England rugby fans and pundits alike, as he has been a central figure in England line-ups over the past eight years.

The decision to leave out Slade reflects the tough choices the coaching staff has had to make in finalizing the squad – with Borthwick and his staff rumoured to be favouring more versatility in the back division to accommodate a 19-14 squad split that favours the forwards.

Several other players are being reported by UK news outlets as having missed out, including No 8 Alex Dombrandt, hooker Jamie Blamire and wing Joe Cokanasiga, all of whom failed to seize their opportunities during England’s dispiriting 20-9 defeat to Wales.

Tom Willis, Tom Pearson and Jonny May are also said to have failed to make the final cut.

The exclusion of Slade comes on the back of his surprise omission in late 2022 when he was left out of England’s squad for the Autumn Nations Series by then-head coach Eddie Jones.

After making his senior debut for Exeter in 2013, he quickly established himself as a key player, helping the Chiefs win a  famous Gallagher Premiership and the European Champions Cup trophy double.

Slade earned his first England cap in 2015 and has since become a regular feature in the national squad. He has played a vital role in England’s Six Nations triumphs and participated in two Rugby World Cups.