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Gloucester look to Christian Wade to fill Louis Rees-Zammit vacancy
By Neil Fissler
Gloucester are attempting to bring ex-England international Christian Wade back to the Gallagher Premiership to replace Wales speedster Louis Rees-Zammit, who quit the club for the NFL.
Rees-Zammit is ironically on the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) since January, the same programme that the 32-year-old Wade joined when he quit Wasps in 2018.
Wade spent three seasons as a running back on the Buffalo Bills practice squad and has been playing for Racing 92 in the Top 14 since his return to Europe from America.
The 2013 British and Irish Lions tourist, who won one Test cap for England, has scored two tries in eight games for Racing this season under Stuart Lancaster after scoring seven in nine games in his first season in France.
With George Skivington desperately trying to bring in fresh blood at Kingsholm, Gloucester are banking on Wade finding the magical touch that saw him touch down 66 times in 115 games with Wasps before leaving for the NFL.
The Cherry and Whites, who are next to bottom in the Premiership with nine defeats in 12 games, are having trouble getting deals over the line.
Henry Arundell and Joe Cokanasiga both turned down moves to Kingsholm, while Rees-Zammit and Adam Hastings, who is rejoining Glasgow Warriors, both turned their backs on new deals.
Their only confirmed new signing for the 2024/25 season is Cardiff scrum-half Tomos Williams, who has played in Wales’ three recent Guinness Six Nations defeats.
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Latest Comments
James O'Connor comments are correct. Having been to the trainings at CHCH 's Malvern Park, there trainings have been fast and furious . They have stepped up a gear on previous seasons. James looks sharp. As do all the new guys. Ethan Blackadder is in great nick. I believe he is going to have great 2025. Off the field a good guy. Same goes for guys like Dominic Gardiner, Cullen Grace, George Bower. As has been the case for the last few years, great seeing Ethan and Dominic following in the footsteps of there Dads Todd Blackadder and Angus Gardiner, who were big parts of the first title winning Crusader teams, Todd the captain.
Go to commentsIt’s very clearly not intentional.
Certainly makes eye contact, and it’s certainly reckless which means he’s facing anything between an 8 - 208 week ban. Which is quite a range!
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