Christian Wade: Former England rugby star scores with first touch on NFL debut
Christian Wade, who quit rugby union to pursue his American football dream, races 65-yards untouched to the end zone.
Friday 9 August 2019 13:16, UK
Former England rugby union international Christian Wade has made an immediate impact as he tries to forge a career in American football.
The 28-year-old, who left Premiership side Wasps last year to try his luck in the NFL, scored a 65-yard touchdown with his first touch for the Buffalo Bills.
Playing as a running back, Wade made his debut for the team in a pre-season match against the Indianapolis Colts.
Coming into the game in the fourth quarter, he received the ball from the quarterback, cut through a gaping hole in the Colts defence and sprinted to the end zone untouched.
The Bills won 24-16 at New Era Field in Buffalo, New York.
"I knew where I was going even before the ball came because they overloaded one side," Wade told ESPN.
"Then as soon as I got the ball I was off to the races.
"I was looking up at the screen to see if any of the linebackers or anyone was coming up behind me."
Wade signed for Buffalo in April as part of the NFL's International Player Pathway.
The programme aims to give athletes from outside the US the chance to earn a place on the roster of an NFL team.
Wade, who is tied for third in the Premiership Rugby's all-time try-scorers list on 82, announced in October that he was retiring from the sport to pursue an NFL career.