Is Wade right that English rugby is obsessed by size?
When Christian Wade sensationally announced his retirement from rugby last week, in order to pursue a career in the NFL, he was candid in his reasons why he had developed such a love-hate relationship with the sport.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Wade claimed that English rugby is too obsessed by size and that it was a challenge that he has had to face throughout his career. From not being picked at 16 years of age to feeling like he had to prove himself throughout his time in the professional game, it all came to a head in 2015.
When Stuart Lancaster didn’t select him in his Rugby World Cup training squad and Eddie Jones never reached out to him following his appointment as England’s new head coach, Wade admitted that that was when he gave up on his hopes of adding to the solitary England cap he won against Argentina in 2013.
So, is Wade right? Is English rugby particularly obsessed about size, in a way that other nations aren’t?
Based on Test selections by Tier 1 nations for this coming weekend, the answer is not too supportive to Wade’s claims.
If we take Wade’s height of 1.73m and his weight of 86kg as the baseline, very few players selected fall below that.
Scotland have a pair on their bench, with George Horne weighing in at 79kg and Darcy Graham at 75kg. Both players are slightly taller than Wade.
Fellow Six Nations rivals Wales also have some candidates, with starting back three players Luke Morgan (81kg) and Leigh Halfpenny (85kg) sitting below Wade in terms of weight, as does bench scrum-half Tomos Williams, at 77kg. All three players are taller than the former Wasps wing, though.
The All Blacks actually boast two of the three players this weekend to be both lighter and shorter than Wade, with starting scrum-half Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and bench fly-half Brett Cameron both measuring up at 1.71m and 83kg. Bench scrum-half Mitch Drummond also weighs in at less than Wade at 84kg, but in terms of centres and outside backs, New Zealand don’t have anyone that tips the scales at less than 90kg.
Italy’s starting right wing Giulio Bisegni has a clear height advantage at 1.8m, but only weighs in at 83kg, whilst replacement scrum-half Guglielmo Palazzani stands at 1.77m and 80kg.
The Springboks, a side previously known for their obsession with size, can only offer up their starting and bench scrum-halves, with Ivan van Zyl and Embrosie Papier both weighing in at 80kg. Papier is the other player to join the New Zealand half-backs in being both shorter and lighter than Wade.
And it is a similar story with Ireland, where starting scrum-half Luke McGrath is the only player under 86kg, with the Leinsterman listed at 82kg. Like the All Blacks, there is no one outside of nine weighing in at anything less than 90kg in Ireland’s starting back line.
As for England themselves, George Ford only tips the scales at 84kg, but does enjoy a slight height advantage over Wade.
Continue reading below…
Watch: Owen Farrell discusses Tuilagi injury, Ashton call-up and Springboks
The remaining Tier 1 nations, France, Australia and Argentina, are not in action this weekend.
If you exclude half-backs and fly-halves, given the differing requirements of those positions compared to the outside backs, only Graham, Morgan, Halfpenny and Bisegni weigh less than Wade out of those players featuring this weekend, and all four have height advantages over the former wing.
You could also look at that quartet and suggest that only Halfpenny is a regular starter, with the other three taking opportunities that injuries have provided them. Opportunities, it should be said, that are harder to come by with England, due to the size of the player pool available.
It could be argued that Wade’s weight was an issue for England, but given the scope of other squads picked this week, it seems his height would be an issue for any of the top Test-playing nations in the world.
It’s brutal, but there’s no denying how important the battle for aerial balls is, especially with the recent trend in cross-field kicks, so height is a key influencer in selection.
All of that said, Wade made great strides with his defence and aerial game over the last three or four years and to be denied the opportunity to show that he could cut it at Test level will forever be one of the unanswerable ‘what ifs’ of English rugby.
As a running back and kick returner in the NFL, that diminutive height and low centre of gravity should only aid his elusiveness and hopefully he finds a home that appreciates the undeniable skills that he brings to the mix.
Watch: Scotland flanker Jamie Ritchie previews the game against Wales this weekend.
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments