Christian has faith his rugby skills will pay the bills

CHRISTIAN WADE believes rugby has equipped him to make a success of American football.

The former England wing made an explosive start to his switch, scoring a 65-yard touchdown for the Buffalo Bills with his first carry in his first game last Friday. Wade made enough of an impact in the NFL pre-season clash to be presented with the game ball. He said: “It was an incredible moment for me, like the best feeling in the world. It’s what dreams are made of.”

It is only a first step on a long road but his flying start convinced Wade he made the right call by quitting rugby.

“It has been a lot of hard work and a lot of grinding, mentally as well, where I doubted myself a little bit,” he said. “I haven’t been playing football that long. I’m still yet to have a big hit, I’m still yet to play a full game.

“I’ve got lots to learn. But this gives me the motivation to keep working towards becoming a great football player. A moment like that gives me a little bit of a release where I can say all this hard work is actually paying off.”

Wade, 28, said the reason he left his comfort zone in rugby with Wasps was to test himself mentally and physically. “But one of the big positives for me is the skills that transfer over from playing rugby,” he said. “All my experience during the 10 years that I’ve been playing is definitely going to help me in the game of football.”

Next up for Wade is a clash against London-raised Efe Obada when the Bills visit Carolina on Saturday.