Lee keeping his distance as return of Christian is anticipated
WASPS head coach Lee Blackett said he has ‘love’ for Christian Wade as rumours grow over the former winger’s return to rugby union.
The sport was rocked by the news of the fleet-footed try machine’s retirement from rugby union in 2018, aged 27, to pursue a career in American Football.
Wade was picked by the Buffalo Bills in 2019 and remained on their practice squad until his release in April this year.
His hopes of making into the main roster were hit by the global pandemic and a season-ending shoulder injury in August 2021.
Fellow former Wasps ace Tom Varndell, now an agent, hinted Wade might be set for a rugby union return by saying ‘watch this space’ regarding his future.
The man himself, now aged 30, fuelled speculation last week by Tweeting: “Another good week in the bag but what’s the next move?”
Then yesterday morning, he confirmed he was back in his home country, Tweeting he was in London and saying ‘we’re back.’
Blackett was the attack coach at Wasps when Wade exited rugby union having scored 82 tries – then just 10 short of former all-time leader Varndell (on 92) – which has now extended to 95 following Chris Ashton’s recent exploits for Leicester Tigers.
Upon Dai Young’s departure as director of rugby in February 2020, Blackett became head coach where he remains and is currently preparing his side for a European Challenge Cup semi-final against Lyon on Saturday.
“I love Wadey. He’s a great character, he’s a great finisher,” he said. “But in terms of coming back to Wasps, or coming back to rugby union, I’ve not heard anything.”
Despite distancing the club from reuniting with one of it’s alltime greats, Blackett did suggest his name had been on peoples’ lips at their Henleyin-arden training ground base.
“There’s still people here who know Wadey really well,” he said. “You still hear the stories and what people are saying. Only the other day there was a lot of people talking about him in here. He is someone everyone keeps an eye on.”
Reflecting on Wade’s decision to switch sports and leave his only professional
rugby club three-and-ahalf years ago, Blackett added: “From a Wasps perspective, pretty gutted. Because of the quality player he is, quality person he is. He’s one of those guys, Wadey, that you saw him every day, no matter what he did, he always made you smile.” Meanwhile, long-serving Wasps forward James Gaskell is reportedly ‘in talks’ over a move to Japan. The 6ft 7in tall lock/flanker has
made 152 appearances for the Black and Golds since joining from Gallagher Premiership rivals Sale Sharks in 2014. However, injuries and the form of others have limited the 31-year-old to just 11 appearances this season and it appears he could be heading out the door this summer.
The Rugby Paper reported that Gaskell is ‘in talks’ with a Japanese club regarding a move to a League One side. Wasps can boast Joe Launchbury and Elliott Stooke as their leading second rows while younger talents Tim Cardall and Theo Vukasinovic are also contracted into the 2022/23 season.
Only the other day there was a lot of people talking about him in here. He is someone everyone keeps an eye on. Lee Blackett