Wade Ready to Step Up
With the Six Nations now in full swing, fans are inevitably going to be looking at the players who have the potential to become an integral part of their nation's plans for the 2015 World Cup. Many teams have already shown strong signs that they are beginning to lay the foundations for a team which will be successful in three years time, not least so interim England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster. Despite suffering from a myriad of injuries to some of his more promising players, Lancaster has still named a youthful side, with the likes of Owen Farrell and Ben Morgan included as he attempts to revitalise a squad shorn of the experienced heads of Johnny Wilkinson and Lewis Moody.
One of England's greatest prospects however will not be taking to the field at all during this Six Nations, and will instead be recovering from surgery on a groin injury. London Wasps winger Christian Wade, 20, was tipped by many to earn his first cap for England this February until injury denied him the opportunity.
A product of Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, Wade does have previous experience in an England shirt, shining for the England Sevens side in 2009, where he scored 22 tries in seven tournaments. This, along with impressive performances for the Wasps A side, helped show everyone else what the Wasps management already knew, Wade has star potential.
The arrival of Dai Young at Wasps signalled good things for Wade as the winger was rewarded with a place in the first team squad and hasn't looked back since. He made an electric start to the season, helping Wasps to impressive victories over both Saracens and Leicester Tigers. He continued to excel, scoring eight tries and leading the try scorer's table until he was unfortunately sidelined with the injury he picked up against Worcester. Those performances are even more impressive given the combination of injuries to many of Wasps first team players and their generally lacklustre showings throughout the season.
Possessing breathtaking speed and a great ability to hit teams on the counter attack, his style of running at defenders is reminiscent of former England star Jason Robinson. Although not yet as defensively solid as Robinson, or as refined in attack, the comparison may be slightly premature, but just goes to highlight the ability Wade could go on to achieve. Perhaps most exciting about Wade is the maturity and physical ability he has shown in what is just his first season with the Wasps first team, and are both parts of his game which will only continue to improve as he gains more experience and exposure to top level rugby.
Alongside the likes of Elliot Daly and Billy Vunipola, the future looks bright for both Wasps and England, as the club continue their tradition of producing some of the best English talent in the Aviva Premiership. At just 20 years of age, Wade certainly has time on his side, but if he can stay fit and maintain the kind of form he has shown so far this season, he is likely to be one of the first names on the England team sheet come this time next year.
