Christian Wade set for shock Wasps exit in a bid to play in the NFL

[Rimbaud82]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/oct/18/rugby-union-nfl-christian-wade-wasps-premiership

Pretty shocking to be honest. There have been a few lower profile guys try to make the switch, but Wade is the biggest name to do it. Not that he is one of the absolute best at his position either, he only has 1 cap for England. But he is quite a prolific try scorer, he ranks 3rd all time in the English Premiership.

Interesting to see how he does, but it is pretty baffling....the man is 27 ffs, and doesn't seem as quick as he used to be. It is always a stretch to try and swap between sports like that, and picking up NFL at his age seems like an extreme long-shot. He is pretty fast and agile, but he's quite small for rugby too so I imagine he will play special-teams at best.

Seems like NFL is making a point to become more international?

 

[Rimbaud82]

For americans:

 

[Frank23]

Those Rugby defenders are really slow compared to NFL players.

 

[Rimbaud82]

Those Rugby defenders are really slow compared to NFL players.

They are certainly not as specialised as NFL defenders. They have to do a lot more things. For one there is no position which only plays defense. But yeah, because of that they are unlikely to be as quick off the line as some NFL linebackers, broadly speaking anyway.

Although are saying this just from looking at those clips? Or do you watch rugby too?

 

[Frank23]

They are certainly not as specialised as NFL defenders. They have to do a lot more things. For one there is no position which only plays defense. But yeah, because of that they are unlikely to be as quick off the line as some NFL linebackers, broadly speaking anyway.

Although are saying this just from looking at those clips? Or do you watch rugby too?

I don't follow rugby and hope Wade does well. It's a fun story.

 

[Rimbaud82]

I don't follow rugby and hope Wade does well. It's a fun story.

I think his age is against him more than anything, and it's a hard enough swap anyway. When you're going up against people that have been playing their whole lives. But I do find cross-sport stories fun too.

 

[Rimbaud82]

 

[MadSquabbles500]

I dont see why rugby guys cannot make great running backs. Its obviously less taxing endurance wise, but he will get blockers which ought to make his life easier. Now there is of course catching passes and turning to do that, but they can just specialize certain plays for them.

Rugby guys likely wont fumble ever because the whole point of their game is Defense trying to get the fumble, and Hand egg is smaller.

 

[Rimbaud82]

I dont see why rugby guys cannot make great running backs. Its obviously less taxing endurance wise, but he will get blockers which ought to make his life easier. Now there is of course catching passes and turning to do that, but they can just specialize certain plays for them.

Rugby guys likely wont fumble ever because the whole point of their game is Defense trying to get the fumble, and Hand egg is smaller.

Yeah but things like reading blocking assignments are obviously pretty complex, running with limited vision because of helmets is difficult, running more upright is different etc. etc. The way you carry the ball is completely different too, rugby guys don't just tuck it and run. It's all pretty different despite some surface level similarities.

I mean if they grew up in america then yeah, they'd probably be in the NFL

 

[MadSquabbles500]

Yeah but things like reading blocking assignments are obviously pretty complex, running with limited vision because of helmets is difficult, running more upright is different etc. etc. The way you carry the ball is completely different too, rugby guys don't just tuck it and run. It's all pretty different despite some surface level similarities.

I mean if they grew up in america then yeah, they'd probably be in the NFL

It really is not too hard to learn Murkan football. It is not a sport like soccer, or ice hockey where you have to start very young. There are many NFLers that did not start until they were like 16. The skillset is easy to absorb, very easy.

 

[Rimbaud82]

It really is not too hard to learn Murkan football. It is not a sport like soccer, or ice hockey where you have to start very young. There are many NFLers that did not start until they were like 16. The skillset is easy to absorb, very easy.

I mean its clearly not that easy, or else there wouldnt be such competition to get into the NFL. Or you wouldnt get someone like Trent Richardson failing miserably when transition from college to pro.

Starting at 16 and working up through high school, college etc. is different than attempting to swap to the highest level at 27. Though I'd like to see Wade do well.