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.
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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
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
27 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
26 Go to comments