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Christian Wade linked with medical joker move to the Top 14
By Liam Heagney
Former England international Christian Wade has been linked with a move to the Top 14 nearly four years after he played his last rugby match. It was October 2018 when the winger made his final appearance for Wasps before quitting the sport for the chance to make try and make it in the NFL with Buffalo Bills.
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Wade’s time in America came to an end earlier this year and on returning to England he teased that he would be interested in making a rugby comeback. However, nothing concrete has yet materialised for the now 31-year-old in a Gallagher Premiership recruitment market that has been considerably restricted by the reduced salary cap.
Numerous big-name players such as Mike Brown have become free agents after being left without a contract at the end of the 2021/22 season, resulting in the RPA earlier this week urging clubs to create a transparent transfer list of free agents similar to what is done in France when players are out of contract or are coming near the end of their deals.
The reduced market in England hasn’t been in Wade’s favour since he exited the USA, but a long-term injury to a new signing in France has potentially opened the door for him to sign up for a stint in the Top 14.
It was early July when Racing 92 confirmed that Regan Grace, the St Helens Super League player who represents Wales at international league level, had been signed on a deal through to 2026 that would commence with his arrival in October following the end of the season in England.
However, that start date has changed. Grace ruptured his achilles in the final minute of a St Helens defeat to Salford and scans revealed he faced up to a six-month rehabilitation period after surgery and won’t be able to debut for Racing until 2023. The injury has now left the Parisians on the lookout for a medical joker and, according to a report published by Midi Olympique, bringing in Wade is one option that Racing are currently considering ahead of a Top 14 campaign that begins on September 3 at home to Castres.
“The Ile-de-France club is looking for a temporary worker to compensate for the long-term absence of Regan Grace,” read the report. “To this end, Racing are studying the profile and situation of the Englishman, Christian Wade (31 years old, 2 selections).
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“The former Wasps winger intends to return to rugby after a three-year hiatus in American football in the NFL. In June, he said he had received offers from five different countries: several Premiership clubs, including Exeter and Wasps, Top 14 formations, Australia, South Africa and the United States United. However, two months later, the finisher has still not found a base.
“It could therefore be at Racing 92 if the international with two caps gave guarantees on his form. As a reminder, Wade had scored 99 tries in eight years at Wasps. The Hauts-de-Seine club is also studying a track leading to the Fijian winger Vinaya Habosi (22), also followed by Bordeaux and La Rochelle, who is currently engaged with the Fijian Drua. This season he scored five tries in Super Rugby.”
