EX-WASPS AND England rugby player Christian Wade enjoyed a stunning start to his NFL career, scoring a 65-yard touchdown with his first touch in a pre-season game for the Buffalo Bills.
Wade, who left a rugby union career behind him last year to focus on forging a career in American Football, is battling to win a place on Buffalo’s 53-man roster for the regular season.
In his opening game at running back against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night, he collected a ball off quarterback Tyree Jackson and tore through a gap in the defence for an impressive touchdown.
In his first football game ever. On his first NFL touch.
— NFL (@NFL) August 9, 2019
Former England rugby superstar Christian Wade just scored a 65-yard TD!!!@ChristianWade3 #INDvsBUF pic.twitter.com/4You01TFXz
Regarded as one of the most lethal finishers in Premiership Rugby history, Wade arrived in America as part of the International Player Pathway Program, which aims to help overseas talent break into the NFL.
He scored 82 tries in the Premiership and was part of the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia in 2013.
The 28-year-old is hoping to join a Bills roster that also includes veteran running backs LeSean McCoy and Frank Gore.
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That’s incredible
@Jim Demps: the fast lane was left wide open for Wade to get through… You wouldn’t see a hole that big in regular season. Still though, great vision and speed to score. Big things await this guy.
@Peter Cavey: it certainly does have all the hall marks of a pre season game but to score on a 65 yarder on your first touch is pretty special.
Delighted for him. Took some set of balls to do this, hope it works out for him.
Delighted for tbe guy, took way too much flak on departure.
That’s the thing about American Football.. Runners usually don’t sidestep, jink or hand-off, just take the contact and set up again. Strange Sport. (Not saying that I could do any better.)
@Seamus Quinn: they do jink and sidestep
@Colm Connolly: and I’m pretty sure he didn’t sidestep or hand off anyone en route to scoring that TD either….
@Liam Flague: I’m not saying he did but the original comment said that running backs dont jink or sidestep which is clearly not true if you have ever watch even 1 game
@Colm Connolly: I know, but, y’know.. more.
@Seamus Quinn: You must be watching a different sport to the one I watch. Literally the best side steps and jinks in world sport are found in the NFL.
@Liam Flague: He certainly seems to send the first defender the wrong way with a shimmy just after he gets the ball. No-one’s expecting someone to get through that area with the ball in hand so after that yeah it’s a straight race and he doesn’t need to step anyone else.
@Seamus Quinn: no hand off cos the defender will rip your arm off if you try . Loads of jinks and steps by running backs though
@Limón Madrugada: Fair enough. Arms are kinda handy. Still think they’re in the habit of taking the hit instead of trying to beat the last man. Wade might try things a little differently..