Ex-England wing Wade gives update on his American football future, a sport where he hasn't played a match in 17 months
Ex-England international Christian Wade has ruled out a return to rugby despite not playing an American football match since August 2019 after his NFL career stalled at Buffalo Bills. The long-serving Wasps player left behind the Gallagher Premiership in October 2018 to pursue a career in NFL.
The 29-year-old, who was capped for England away to Argentina in 2013, was signed by the Bills via the sport’s international player pathway programme. He made an instant impact in his first appearance, scoring a touchdown with a 65-yard run with his first touch in a pre-season match.
However, his fortunes haven’t been as eye-catching since then. Unable to make the 53-man roster for the 2019 and 2020 NFL campaigns, the rookie running back had to make do with the Bills practice squad.
With the pandemic forcing the cancellation of the NFL’s 2020 pre-season programme, it robbed Wade of further exposure in a career where he has so far only played four American football games and is still awaiting an NFL debut.
Despite the absence of a match appearance in the past 17 months, Wade has insisted he remains committed to trying to make the breakthrough and has no intention of picking up where he left off in rugby.
In his first football game ever. On his first NFL touch.
Former England rugby superstar Christian Wade just scored a 65-yard TD!!!@ChristianWade3 #INDvsBUF pic.twitter.com/4You01TFXz
— NFL (@NFL) August 9, 2019
Speaking to the UK Telegraph ahead of Buffalo’s wildcard match this Saturday against the Colts, Wade said: “I’m 100 per cent locked in. I made the decision to leave rugby and retire. This is what I am doing until I can’t do it any more.
“I feel as if I am ready to go out on the field and play and do a job. The game is so complex so you’re always going to be learning and getting better, but in terms of a foundation to go out on the field, I feel like I’m at that stage now.
“I believe in doing my job and showing them that I’m ready. Then there will be a point where they want to use you, or they won’t. Games are what is most important. You can practise as much as you want but you really need games to help with your development.”
Wade would be a different proposition if he returned to rugby as he has added 15lbs of muscle in trying to make the crossover to American football. “I don’t have to use my tank anymore,” he quipped. “I’m more of an out-and-out sports car now — short journeys only, and we have pit stops every four seconds.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
1 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
3 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
3 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
2 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
16 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
16 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
19 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
2 Go to commentsIf stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game.
2 Go to commentsGlad Tom Curry not playing needs time to recover such a great player also his brother Ben how well is he playing now .
1 Go to commentsLet’s examine what might be irking the brainless E: Up until 20 years before this coming Julys tests: 16 games: 14 wins for SA; 1 win for Ire; 1 draw From 20 years until July’ tests Ireland V SA: 13 matches Ireland won 8; SA won 4; 1 draw Points scored Ireland 261; SA 189 Ave Winning Margin: Ireland 11 points; SA 4 points (away 3, home 6) Away win record: Ireland 33.33%; SA 25% Neutral matches 1: Ireland win RWC France 2023. Last SA win June 2016 (8 years ago) They boast 3 World cups in that period (they do boast). The above record is not good, probably not much better than theirs against NZ for same period. That’s why the dopey E is starting fights in his head. He will probably ship a yellow when things don’t go their way in the first test.
127 Go to commentsGoode is like a wet fart on The Rugby Pod and should be shoved aside. Jim knows what he is on about and can get on better without Goode’s nasty little cheap shots.
127 Go to comments