Christian Wade told to drop rugby union habit 'not advisable in rugby league'

Christian Wade’s switch to rugby league side Wigan Warriors has already sparked some light-hearted advice from a familiar face, with Chris Ashton warning him against one particular pracice acceptd in rugby union.

The 33-year-old will join Wigan on a short-term deal after completing his season with Gloucester in the Gallagher Premiership. Wade previously represented Wasps for seven years and even had a stint with NFL outfit Buffalo Bills.

Now he wants to tackle a third sporting code.

“I’m excited to join Wigan Warriors, a club with a tremendous legacy,” said Wade. “I’m honoured to be joining a list of legendary players who have played for this club. I’m looking forward to this next chapter in my career and I can’t wait to get started.

“It’s been a real honour to play for Gloucester over the past year. I’ve loved playing Gallagher Premiership rugby again.

“I’m excited for the challenge, but for now, my focus remains wholly on finishing the season strongly with Gloucester,” said the electric winger who has been clocked at 11.1 metres a second.

As former England winger prepares for the switch, dual-code athlete Chris Ashton had some tongue-in-cheek advice for him whilst on comms for TNT Sports’ coverage of Gloucester versus Exeter Chiefs.

“There is one thing that I would recommend to Christian Wade before he goes to rugby league. It is I wouldn’t be wearing the tights,” Ashton joked. “It’s not advisable. I get it’s here and it’s kind of accepted in the rugby union world. They might not have that kind of approach in the rugby league world. That’d be my only bit of advice for him.”

“It’s not advisable in Rugby League!”

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Chris Ashton has some advice for Christian Wade ahead of his code-switch.#GallagherPrem | #GLOvEXE pic.twitter.com/JHZEav5M7j

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 27, 2025

Wade’s move will see him link up with a Wigan side who continue to chase silverware in 2025. Earlier this week Wade alluded to contract negotiations in an ever-changing Gallagher Premiership being partly behind his decision to leave Gloucester.

“There were some opportunities but the lay of the land in the Premiership has changed quite a lot, especially since I left in 2018,” he told the BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast. “I think there are quite a few people in my position with my sort of age and experience where, unless you’ve been at a club your whole career, there are some difficulties around extending contracts and stuff like that.”