Henry Slade Named in England's Autumn Squad

Henry Slade has been included in England's 36-man squad for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series, set to begin against New Zealand on November 2, despite not having played for Exeter this season due to shoulder surgery. Slade's return is a significant boost for head coach Steve Borthwick, especially with other key players like Alex Mitchell and Fraser Dingwall sidelined by injuries. George Ford has also been named in the squad, as he recovers from a quad muscle tear, while Alex Lozowski could earn his first cap in six years. The squad will gather at the Honda England Rugby Performance Centre before traveling to Girona for training. Borthwick emphasized the importance of thorough preparation and building team cohesion as they face tough opponents in the series. The inclusion of Slade and Ford will be closely monitored as they may choose to gain playing time with their clubs ahead of the international matches.