Christian Wade

Christian Wade
Date of birth 15 May 1991
Place of birth Slough, England
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight 81 kg (12 st 11 lb)
School Royal Grammar School
University St Mary's University College
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Wing
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2011– London Wasps 80 250
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2011–
2013–
2013		 England Saxons
England
British and Irish Lions		 1
1
0		 (5)
(0)
(0)
Sevens national teams
Years Club / team Comps
England

Christian Wade (born 15 May 1991) is an English rugby union footballer who plays as a wing.[1] He is known for his speed, acceleration and agility which enable him to move through groups of opposing players and around individuals.

Early life

Raised in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, Wade attended Hamilton Primary School and Ravens Wood School.[2] He initially was not interested in rugby but picked up the sport as it was the RGS's primary sport.[3] He represented England U16 A, England U18 and England U20 and also London Wasps at the Middlesex Sevens as a schoolboy. A former district and English Schools athlete, Wade ran a time of 10.54 seconds over the 100m distance at the age of 17. He was trained by the former English sprinter Julian Golding.[4]

After finishing school, Wade studied Sport Science and Psychology at St Mary's University College in Twickenham while playing the Wasps' academy side and then senior team.

Career Christian Wade made his debut for Wasps in Abu Dhabi against harlequins by replacing Jack Wallace in the 48th minute of the 13-38 defeat. He made 3 further appearances scoring one try against Exeter Chiefs.

Christian had a strong 2011/12 season, when despite missing three months with injury, he finished the season as the second highest try scorer in the Premiership with nine in 15 games. The season ended on a high for Christian with selection for England's tour in South Africa.

Opposition Points Scored
Saracens 5
Leicester Tigers 15
Newcastle Falcons 5
Bath Rugby 5
Union Bordeaux-Begles 15
London Irish 5
Biarritz Olympique PB 5
Harlequins 5
Newcastle Falcons 5
Barbarians 5

At the end of the 2012/13 season, Wade was named both the Players' Player of the Year and the Young Player of the Year after a good season for London Wasps. He finished level with Wasps team-mate Tom Varndell as the Premiership's joint leading try-scorer with 13. He also scored 5 tries in the 2012–13 European Challenge Cup. He scored 18 tries in 26 appearances in that season.[5]

Christian was rewarded for his form and was called up into the England senior squad and the British and Irish Lions squad - a huge accolade.[6]

Opposition Points scored
Harlequins 10
Bath Rugby 5
Mogliano Rugby 10
London Welsh 10
Aviron Bayonnais 5
Bath Rugby 5
Harlequins 5
Gloucester Rugby 5
London Irish 5
Saracens 5
Leinster 10
Exeter Chiefs 5
Sale Sharks 10
Barbarians 5

The 2013/2014 season was disappointing for the youngster after such a successful summer. Wade made 10 appearances and scored five tries before an injury against London Irish in November ended his season. He has a 84% tackle success rate for wasps in this season,making 542m in his 10 appearances.

Opposition Points Scored
Exeter Chiefs 5
Worcester Warriors 5
Leicester Tigers 5
Gloucester Rugby 10

After eight months of rehabilitation, the flying winger made his return against Saracens scoring 2 tries in defeat.[7] He then went on to score 12 more tries in the next 21 games. He scored against the Irish Wolfhounds in cork after replacing Chris Ashton with his second touch of the ball [8]

International

Sevens

He made his international sevens debut at the IRB Sevens World Series in Dubai in December 2009 and he scored 7 tries in George a week later, finishing joint top try scorer with Fijian wizard, William Ryder. He added 2 more in Wellington and 3 more tries in Las Vegas a week later. He scored 3 in London. Overall, he amassed 22 tries in 7 tournaments in the 2009–10 Series, which made him the 15th highest individual try scorer that season. Wade was selected for the 17-man initial England rugby sevens training squad for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

U20's

He was part of the England U20 side at the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina, which finished 4th overall, losing to South Africa in the 3rd–4th place play-offs. He scored one try against Argentina in the tournament, which was won by 2009 winners New Zealand. On 31 May 2012, Wade made his international debut for England against the Barbarians, starting at number 11 and scoring one try while setting up Jonathan Joseph in the last play of the game with some elusive footwork, although this game was uncapped. England went on to win the game 57–26.

Senior Team and Lions

He was selected for the England summer tour to Argentina, Wade scored in a warm up game against the Barbarians winning 40–12. He made his full test debut against Argentina on 8 June on the right wing playing the whole 80 minutes. Wade was selected for the second game against Argentina the following week but withdrew from the team when he was called up to join the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.[9] He made his Lions debut on the right wing against Australian Super Rugby side, The Brumbies.

Christian was initially selected to play against Argentinan in the 2013 QBE Autumn Internationals, however a slight hamstring tear meant he had to withdraw from the game. An injury in a club game at the beginning of December against London Irish meant he played no part in the 2014 RBS Six Nations and the Summer Tour to New Zealand.

Christian was overlooked for the 2014 QBE Internationals, but was selected for the England Saxons to play against the Irish Wolfhounds.

International tries

Try Opposing team Location Venue Competition Date Result Score
† Barbarian F.C. London, England Twickenham Summer International 27 May 2012 Win 57 – 26 [10]
‡ x3 South African Barbarians South Kimberley, South Africa Hoffe Park Stadium 2012 Tour of South Africa 13 June 2012 Win 54 – 26 [11]
† Barbarian F.C. London, England Twickenham Summer International 26 May 2013 Win 40 – 12 [12]

† Full international cap not awarded for Barbarians Test match [13][14]

‡ Full international cap not awarded for South African Barbarians South Test match [15]

References

External links