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Gloucester statement: The signing of Christian Wade from Racing
By Liam Heagney
Gloucester have confirmed that Christian Wade will join them for the 2024/25 season, as per last month’s exclusive RugbyPass transfer story.
It was February 27 when we first published the rumour that the former England winger was being lined up for a switch to Kingsholm from Racing 92 to replace Louis Rees-Zammit, the Welsh international who exited in January for a shot at making it in American football.
Fifteen days later, Wade had now been unveiled as a new Gloucester signing having made his return to rugby in France following a spell in the NFL with Buffalo Bills.
A statement read: “Gloucester Rugby is delighted to confirm the signing of Christian Wade from Top 14 club, Racing 92. The wing will link up with the Cherry and Whites ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Wade made his professional rugby debut in 2011 for former Gallagher Premiership side Wasps, where he went on to make 165 appearances for the club.
“During the 2012/13 season, Wade was named both players’ player of the year and the young player of the year after finishing joint leading try-scorer with 13 tries in the Premiership and was selected for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.
“In October 2018, Wade left rugby to pursue a career in American football with a dream to play in the National Football League (NFL). Wade joined the International Player Pathway (IPP), the same programme that former Gloucester wing Louis Rees-Zammit recently enrolled on.
“After graduating the IPP, Wade was contracted to the Buffalo Bills as a running back. Wade left Buffalo and the NFL in 2022, paving the way for his return to rugby, joining Parisian side Racing for whom he has scored seven tries for so far.”
Gloucester director of rugby George Skivington said: “Everyone at the club is thrilled to welcome Christian to Gloucester.
"It has been clear since he returned from America that he has come back in even better shape and still has that sixth sense for the try line that he had before he left.
“We have got a pretty exciting stock of back three players here, but it’s hugely pleasing to add someone of Christian’s experience to that group.”
Wade added: “I’m excited to be returning to the Premiership next season and for a great club like Gloucester.
"After speaking with George, I believe in his vision and ambition for the team and I can’t wait to play my part in that. I have fond memories of playing at Kingsholm in Wasps colours.”
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Latest Comments
Can’t wait. Hard to call even with Munster being away. La Rochelle have been so off the boil recently.
Go to commentsPep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca. The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.
His time with City - a lower win ratio compared to Bayern Munich as you say - includes a 100 PT season. A feat that will likely never be surpassed. I appreciate you don’t follow soccer too closely but even casual fans refer to the sport in ‘pre and post Pep’ terms and all because of what he has achieved and is continuing to achieve, late career. There is a reason that even U10’s play out from the back now at every level of the game. That’s also a fairly recent development.
How refreshing to return to rugby on a rugby forum.
Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.
His career since has even included director of rugby positions. He would have an extremely good idea of where the game is at and where it is going in addition to governance experience and dealings. Not least in Oz were many of the players will have come via or across Rugby League pathways.
Gatland isn’t a valid coach to compare too. He only ever over-achieved and was barely schools level without Shaun Edwards at club or test level. His return to Wales simply exposed his limitations and a chaotic union. It wasn’t age.
Schmidt is open to staying involved in a remote capacity which I think deserves more attention. It would be a brain drain to lose him. He stepped in to coach the ABs in the first 2022 test against Ireland when Foster was laid out with Covid. They mullered Ireland 42-19. He was still heavily involved in the RWC 2023 quarter final. Same story.
Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.
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