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'Physically, it was a shock to the system ' - Wade surprised by NFL call-up

By Chris Jones

08 Apr 2019

Christian Wade was one of the success stories of the club's academy during their days in Buckinghamshire. (Getty Images)

Former England wing Christian Wade admitted it was a “huge surprise” to discover today that he had been drafted to the NFL Buffalo Bills franchise

Wade, who quit rugby union to follow his NFL dream, will be part of the International Player Pathway Program this season, which allows the four franchises in the AFC East to carry an extra player on their practice squads, as long as they are international players from abroad.

Wade, the former Wasps flyer, told Talksport: “The whole process has been huge and I am excited to go to such a big team as Buffalo. I refer to it like learning a language and you cannot play unless you know the terminology. Physically, it was a shock to the system and you only get one day off. I am only scratching the surface and the hardest thing to get my head round was the route running having come from rugby where you get more freedom.

“You are told how many steps to take in the route before you take a cut and eventually I started to look like an American football player.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwAXAARgYiy/

“Having professional experience for 10 years has taken me through this and you cannot buy that kind of thing. I received a phone call from the Bills GM to tell me they were looking forward to meeting me. The NFL is so demanding and all I can do is put my head down, study and learn the playbook and hopefully make my way onto the field and make some plays.

I’m lost for word right now… I’ll update the caption soon. Give God thanks! ???? https://t.co/3yLZd4RTq4
— Christian Wade (@ChristianWade3) April 8, 2019

“This move has taken a lot to get where I am but there are no guarantees and you must have 100 percent belief.”

Wade had some advice for England football captain Harry Kane who has expressed an interest in becoming a kicker in the NFL. Wade added: “Harry has got a hell of a boot and I cannot see why he wouldn’t make it but he would have to learn the playbook and maybe he can give me a call and I will put a word in for him!”

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Comments on RugbyPass

Bull Shark 5 minutes ago

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

Not true. I'm a South African and I absolutely loved seeing the Wallabies beating England. And miss the Wallabies of old who were a devastating force with some of the greatest players of all time.

I hear quite regularly that Australians prefer Aussie rules, league, and cricket over rugby.

So again, seems like Australians are to blame for the state of the game in Australia?

16 Go to comments

Bull Shark 13 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I find Ben Smith to be an emotionally driven hysteric. So I question everything he writes.

He launched into the year about the ABs being back this year. For a "journalist" his opinions are based on the flavour of the month.

He's at least gone quiet about how sh1t the boks actually are. Although I suspect he's working on an outrageous article to that effect as we speak, to drive engagement after the end of the Autumn series, as we'll all be taking a break until the 6N.

22 Go to comments

Chesterfield 15 minutes ago

Michael Hooper reacts to Scott Barrett’s controversial late-game call

The dominant pack should be enforcing their superiority with maximum points and the psychological advantage of taking the lead.

You don’t get that by saying we’ll settle for three and try again you get it by scoring seven and trying again. Doesn’t come off every time?

No.

But if you’ve asserted dominance letting the opposition off and not trying to build a double score difference is wrong minded.

All blacks have traditionally played to build the unassailable lead not meekly win a single point victory.

11 Go to comments

Arnold 18 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

Aaah. Ben Smith. Ever the unbiased, objective rugby scribe......NOT.

Unable to give credit where it's due, other than for the ABs, especially when it comes to the Boks. His contempt for them is tangible. If you want to " Get Real" about these ABs Ben, consider when they last beat the Boks??? For us Bok fans, beating the ABs is the only true measure.

22 Go to comments

Reader76 36 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

"they [All Blacks] are nuggety and resourceful and don’t wilt. They are prepared to win the hard way, accumulating points by any means necessary."

Sounds like you're describing your arch-nemesis Ben 😁

22 Go to comments

CM 40 minutes ago

'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

This article only shows a part of SBs failings as England Coach. Firstly his reputation st Leicester was false, his SA and Welsh players won the matches not his coaching prowess. He has Wigglesworth as attack coach, someone who rarely attacked when playing. His player selection is awful, ignoring form players and sticking with failed internationals. He picks players that he knows and will be easy to manage for him. What on earth is Slade doing when even for Exeter he does not make line breaks with steppping, pace or guile, why on earth are Cole,George,Steward,Ford,Iseweke and a few other anywhere near the Team. Borthwick is awful as Head Coach of England.

1 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 41 minutes ago

Key Wallabies trio running hot a year after being left in cold

Good to be writing about a WB team that has beaten two 6 N sides in successive weeks, Brett.

Lolesio indeed is looking very comfortable under Schmidt coaching. He must feel as confident now as he was feeling in his spell at Toulon last year. It will be interesting to see how he does against Finn Russell.

30 Go to comments

J Marc 1 hour ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Your unterstanding of the relation FFR LNR, is far better than the one in the article. For Meafou, there is an article on Skelton saying he is totally indispensable in the australian game.

In France they are often compared, and french game is often, but not always ,based on this kind of number 5. But , there are a lot of kind of play in France and in the world, and it's a blessing, because otherwise, the game would be boring.

On my other post ,which you replied, my intention was to explain with some historics facts the main importance, in France, of the championship.

But ,once again, I would prefer 3 games in NZ , with the better french players.

287 Go to comments

Ninjin 1 hour ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I said before the November tests that the AB's should go smash some Nh teams to find their feet and it seems that is just what they did bar France. Could have should have always sucks. Better to look to the future.

22 Go to comments