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Christian Wade's latest NFL comments won't go down well in rugby circles
Former Wasps and England winger Christian Wade recently opened up about his move to American Football as he took over the NFL UK Instagram account.
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Speaking from a hyperbaric chamber on Instagram live, the 27-year-old answered a number of questions that were posed to him by fans.
Wade is currently living in Florida at the IMG Academy on the NFL International Player Pathway, where he said that he hopes to be with a team for preseason ahead of the season starting in September. He explained that he hopes to be picked up as a free agent and play as a running back.
The one-cap England international was posed a lot of questions comparing American Football to rugby, in which he said that winning the Super Bowl would be bigger than winning the World Cup. He also said that American Football was more dangerous than rugby, which was a question that was bound to be asked.
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He explained that the main difference between the two sports was obviously the fact that American Football has pads and helmets, but also the gameplay between the two. Rugby, he described was free-flowing, while his new sport is much more stop-start and like a game a game of chess, whereby he is expected to give 100% the whole time, rather than conserving energy across 80 minutes in rugby.
In light of this, he said that the hardest thing about moving to American Football has been learning the playbook, and being expected to know it in no time at all. Wade said that he is fine with wearing a helmet, but is finding American Football to be like “learning another language”. Furthermore, such is the volume of information that he has had to learn, he said that you “can’t blag it”.
The 2013 British and Irish Lions tourist also opened up about his rugby career, saying that he does not miss it, as he was not enjoying it when he left Wasps. He said that American Football is “up my street” in terms of the training and it was time for a change, which many fans can sympathise with.
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Despite being one of the most dangerous finishers in England, Wade struggled immensely to impress Eddie Jones with England, and was never given an opportunity by the Australian. Nonetheless, he still talked about his career when asked, explaining how Springboks legend Bryan Habana was his favourite player to play against.
Many fans and pundits feel that Wade was unfairly treated throughout his career, due to the lack exposure he had in international rugby, but it looks clear that he seeks to make a name for himself in NFL. This was a great opportunity for the former Wasp to give an update on his new career and where he hopes to be.
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to comments