Christian Wade’s arrival at Gloucester Rugby is the club’s second marquee signing this week, signalling its intent to compete at the highest level.
Gloucester Rugby directory of rugby George Skivington was elated with his latest capture after adding talented fly-half Gareth Anscombe earlier in the week:
“He [Wade] is a proper X-factor player. I think when he left for the NFL, he was the top try-scorer in the Premiership.
“He can score tries, he is powerful, he is fast. He is in an incredible condition as an athlete right now”.
The 32-year-old began his career with Wasps, for whom he played 165 times, and appeared once for England in 2013.
Wade was a dynamic playmaker for the Wasps, scoring 82 Premiership tries, which led to a call-up to the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia in 2013.
Ironically, some of his finest performances for Wasps came against Gloucester:
He has spent the last two years with French side Racing 92 after returning to rugby union following a three-year spell in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills.
Wade will be asked to help replace Welsh International Louis Rees-Zammit, who quit Gloucester and rugby to join the NFL International Pathway Program in an attempt to establish a career in American football.
“I’m excited to be returning to the Premiership next season and for a great club like Gloucester“
Christian Wade on signing for Gloucester Rugby
Skivington and his coaching team had a contingency plan in place for Rees-Zammit’s departure and discussed how the familiarity level with Wade influenced the signing:
“Obviously, we lost Zam halfway through this year, and we were looking at our back three anyway and certainly needed another number.
“I knew Christian when he was a young academy player. Dom [Waldouck, Gloucester defence coach] has played with him, and Trevor [Woodman, Gloucester scrum coach] has coached him, so we know him and we know his character”.
Park Life Sport spoke with Ed Price, host of the popular ‘Cherry Jam—A Gloucester Rugby Supporter Podcast‘ to gauge fan reactions to the signing of Wade:
Gloucester currently sits in ninth place with three wins from 12; Skivington and Co. will look to Wade and Anscombe’s veteran leadership to help reverse their fortunes as they look forward to next season.
