Christian Wade rues lack of Premiership ‘progress’ as he prepares for cross-code challenge at Wigan Warriors
Christian Wade, one of the Premiership’s greatest try scorers, has admitted he ‘would have liked to have seen the game progress more’ amidst his cross-code switch to join the Wigan Warriors next season.
Making the switch to rugby league after just one year season back in the Premiership for Gloucester, the 33 year old has confessed some damning findings on the state of the league following his NFL hiatus for the Buffalo Bills.
Having racked up an impressive 82 Premiership tries for Wasps before leaving in 2018, Wade enjoyed his fair share of success in England’s premier domestic competition.
‘I would have liked to have seen the game progress a lot more in the span of almost a decade’
While the rapid winger has had a successful solo term with Gloucester, where he could yet reach a Premiership semi-final, it’s evident that his return to the competition has not quite lived up to his expectations, having experienced the business models of the high-flying NFL and even Top 14.
“I don’t think there’s too much of a difference, which I don’t know is a good or a bad thing. Because being away [from the Premiership] for seven years, you would like to see the game progress on a bit more,” he confessed on the BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
“It seems as though there are fewer international stars, for one. When I was at Wasps, we had a lot of people from different parts of the world. I would have liked to have seen the game progress a lot more in the span of almost a decade.”
‘Difficulties around extending contracts’
The Premiership has been struck down with obvious financial issues in recent years, with the hits a contributing reason for Wade’s switch from rugby union to league.
“There were some opportunities, but the lay of the land in the Premiership has changed quite a lot, especially since I left in 2018,” he added.
“I think there are quite a few people in my position with my sort of age and experience, where, unless you’ve been at a club your whole career, there are some difficulties around extending contracts and stuff like that.
“Since Covid, the salary cap has been lowered, but also finances in general. I think that’s why you see people exploring opportunities outside the Premiership.”
A lack of opportunity for world stars in the league, fuelled by greater financial opportunities elsewhere, have been a factor behind Wade’s decision, whose pedigree can’t be disputed, having scored seven times in 10 matches for the Cherry & whites this season.
Despite the Premiership’s low salary cap and struggle to retain and attract international stars, the former Racing 92 winger acknowledged that the opportunity for academy products to flourish is positive.
“A lot of young guys were coming through and as you can see now, they’re spread around the league. But it’s a good thing as well to see some homegrown talent and rugby being played.
Cross-code opportunities and the prospect of a Super League Grand Final
Wade has been no stranger to change, with his career constantly changing and evolving as he prepares to embrace a rugby league chapter.
Though the news of his cross-code switch came as a shock to many, the transition has been a long time in the making, as he described to Wigan Today.
“Wigan wasn’t one of the rugby league teams that had spoken to me previously, but when the opportunity came and that was the third or fourth time that I’ve had offers from league, and this time it was Wigan, so I said let’s go for it.
“When the opportunity comes to play, whatever game it is at whatever level, I’ll make sure I’m ready for it”, he explained on what his role will be within the Wigan Warriors for the 2025/26 season.
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