'That's what I do' - Wade scores again to equal Prem try-scoring record — SkimNews
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- Christian Wade scored for Newcastle against Sale to reach 101 Prem tries and equal Chris Ashton’s mark; he says Newcastle’s cohesion and system matter more to him than the record he can claim outright against Saracens next Saturday.
- Wade reached 100 with a hat-trick against Exeter Chiefs, becoming only the second player to reach a century; he scored five times in Newcastle’s first three Prem matches even though all three ended in defeat.
- Wasps were where Wade scored his first Prem try in May 2011; he later finished as the Prem’s leading try-scorer, alone or jointly, in 2012-13, 2016-17 and 2017-18, although Wasps lost the 2017 final to Exeter.
- Buffalo Bills gave Wade a three-season preseason and practice-squad spell, but he never played a full NFL game; after his release, he scored 10 tries for Racing 92 and 11 for Gloucester.
- Riki Flutey advised Wade to “invest in your own team off the field”; after a serious foot injury, Wade began working with a physio and trainer, and says the NFL took that athlete-led approach to another level.
- England capped Wade once, in a June 2013 Test against Argentina, but omitted him from the 2015 World Cup squad; he says that non-selection prompted him to redirect his focus from England to himself and his club team.
- Newcastle Red Bulls have Wade under a 12-month extension that expires at the end of this season; at 35 and in prime physical condition, he says he intends to keep playing until he has “no juice” left.
Why it matters: Chris Ashton’s three-year benchmark of 101 tries is now shared, and Wade is scheduled to face Saracens next Saturday with a chance to claim sole possession. His Newcastle contract expires at season’s end, concentrating the record bid and his stated intention to keep playing in the same immediate period.
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