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Christian Wade cut by Buffalo Bills
By Ian Cameron
Former England international Christian Wade has been cut by the Buffalo Bills - denting his fledgling hopes in his new sport.
Wade - who switched to the NFL last year - was among 31 players that that failed to make the final Buffalo Bills roster, despite having scored a touchdown with his first competitive touch of an American football.
Wade has a roster exemption so the NFL franchise can keep him on their practice squad for a full year, potentially giving the 28-year-old a further year to learn his trade.
The cut comes despite highlight reel displays in his new sport. A 65-yard touchdown in his first game and a 47-metre mazy run in his second game caught the attention of American media, and many pundits tipped the former Wasps winger as having a real chance of making the Bills roster despite his lack of experience in the game.
His final pre-season running back audition against the Vikings was more workmanlike than his previous two outings.
Wade was also the second-fastest NFL player clocked on the first weekend of pre-season games, reaching a speed of 21.01 mph (33.8km) according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
“He real fast,” running back teammate Frank Gore told Buffalonews.com. “Real fast.”
As part of the NFL's International Player Pathway program, four teams carried an additional overseas player on their practice squads for the 2019 season.
As well as Wade, Australian NRL player Valentine Holmes, joined the New York Jets. Holmes has also been cut.
This week on the Bill Ellis Podcast: McOnie, Mils, & Bates take a deep dive into the All Blacks' RWC squad and how it shapes up against their biggest rivals. Plus we're into round 4 of the Mitre 10 Cup where a host of mouthwatering clashes await.
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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