Exeter star bags top Premiership award

NEWS: Henry Slade may have missed out on England's World Cup squad last year but his performance for Exeter Chiefs has earned him the Premiership Player of the Season.

The 31-year-old had been nominated alongside Northampton Saints duo Fin Smith and Courtney Lawes, as well as Bath flyhalf Finn Russell.

Despite a seventh-place finish in the league, Exeter had a successful night at the awards as Slade’s teammate Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was also named the Breakthrough Player of the Season.

The 62-cap international regained his place in the national team for the Six Nations.

Slade also finished as the league’s top point scorer. To make his week even better, he signed a new contract at Sandy Park before the Chiefs’ final game of the season.

Feyi-Waboso beat Newcastle Falcons flanker Guy Pepper and Harlequins duo Fin Baxter and Chandler Cunningham-South to the award.

The only player from table-topping Northampton to pick up an award was winger Ollie Sleightholme, who took home the top try scorer award for his 14 tries.

Saints boss Phil Dowson was crowned the Director of Rugby of the season though in a season where he also took the Saints to the Investec Champions Cup semi-final.

"Henry Slade has had a memorable season from start to finish, after missing out on the Rugby World Cup in France," said CEO of Premiership Rugby Simon Massie-Taylor.

"He led a young, new-look Exeter Chiefs side to within touching distance of the play-offs.

"Henry is a world-class player and this season has also won a number of games with a clutch kick in the last play – so is a worthy winner of the Gallagher player of the season.

"Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s season is a breakthrough in every sense of the word.

"From University and National League Rugby to become one of the Premiership and England’s shining stars in the space of a season is an incredible achievement. I can’t wait to follow his career at Exeter Chiefs."