Plymouth rugby star Henry Slade keen to repay England
RISING Plymouth rugby star Henry Slade has vowed to repay England for not forgetting him while he was injured.
Fly-half Slade has been named in the England Under-20s squad to take on Italy in Rovigo tonight.
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He will be joining other talented city-born youngsters, backs Jack Arnott and Tommy Bell, in the 23-man party, along with former Ivybridge Community College pupils Ben Spencer and Sam Hill.
Slade has not played for four months due to injury.
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The 18-year-old suffered a back injury, then damaged his knee and has not been in action since he hurt himself playing for Plymouth Albion against Doncaster on October 8.
The former Plymouth College star, who won The Herald's Young Sports Personality of the Year award in December, is dual registered with Albion from Exeter.
Slade, who will start on the bench this evening, said of his first call-up for England Under-20s: "It's great news, especially as I've been out injured for the past four months.
"However, I've been training for the past week, so I should be all right and I've spent a load of time in the gym getting fit again."
Slade said it was 'nice to know' England had kept an eye on him, despite the length of time he spent sidelined by injury.
He said: "I've got to repay them (England) by putting in a good performance."
Arnott, meanwhile, said he was in complete shock over his under-20s call-up.
The Ivybridge Community College student is still young enough to be eligible for England Under-18s.
He said: "I'm on the bench, but I'm hoping to get some game-time.
"Obviously, getting into the senior side is the aim, but this is another step in the right direction."
Arnott, a Devonport Services product, has recently dual-registered with Albion, who are struggling in the Championship.
The city club face a series of play-off matches to avoid relegation.
Arnott, who has already played for Exeter Chiefs in the LV=Cup, said he might have a part to play in keeping Albion up.
He said: "Because of what's been going on at Exeter, I haven't been to Albion. But hopefully I can get to a few training sessions and see what's happening there."
The third player in the city-born trio to make the team is former Ivybridge Community College pupil Tom Bell.
He is with Premiership outfit Sale Sharks and is currently gaining experience by playing for Leeds in the Championship.
He is younger brother of Wasps and former Albion player Chris Bell.
Bell will start at fly-half, with Hill at centre and Spencer joining Slade and Arnott on the bench.
Also in the England side is dual registered Albion prop Luke Cowan-Dickie.
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