Former English rugby star, the 31-year-old winger is attempting a comeback in the Top 14 after four unproductive years in American football.
According to information from the Midi Olympique, Christian Wade is committed until the end of the season with Racing 92. History of a comeback.
Serial marker with Wasps
From 2011 to 2018, Christian Wade wore the colors of the English club Wasps. To flatten 99 times in 165 games. In the English league, he scored 83 tries in 130 matches. Which makes him the fourth highest scorer in Premiership history, behind Chris Ahston (94), Tom Varndell and Mark Cueto. But in just seven seasons as far as he’s concerned…
A selection and then leaves
In 2013, during the summer tour in Argentina, the winger started during a test. A selection, a victory… and that’s it. He will never be recalled in the jersey of the XV de la Rose. That year, he was also retained by the British Lions for the tour of Australia. He will only play one game, this week, against the Brumbies franchise.
A conversion to American football
On October 24, 2018, Christian Wade, aged 27, announced that he was ending his career as a professional rugby player to try the adventure of American football. To succeed in his conversion, he benefited from the “International pathway program”, an NFL program that allows high-level non-American athletes to convert. At the end of this preparation, he was chosen by the Buffalo Bills, quadruple Superbowl finalists (from 1990 to 1993). Who gave him the position of running back (located behind the quarterback to try to cross the opposing defense on the run).
A memorable first… no follow-up
For his first in the Bills jersey, a pre-season game in 2019, number 45 had hit hard with a 65-yard action for a touchdown. Who had inflamed his partners and American commentators. The following ? Nothing. Christian Wade has not played any official NFL meeting with the Buffalo franchise.
In the Top 5 biggest mess in English rugby
Recently, Ruck, the magazine of reference across the Channel, designated the Top 5 of the biggest mess of English rugby. Christian Wade takes fifth place behind Danny Cipriani, James Simpson-Daniel, Steffon Armitage and Alex King.
Racing test him at 7, he hits twice
Last weekend, Racing 92, looking for a medical joker after the serious injury of its rookie, the English treiziste Regan Grace (victim of a ruptured Achilles tendon at the beginning of August, he was supposed to compensate for the Teddy Thomas’ departure at the Stade Rochelais) decides to test him during the InExtenso Supersevens (the French rugby sevens championship). For his big comeback, Christian Wade immediately sent lightning, scoring two tries in his first game in this 3e stage of the Supersevens.
