One-cap England winger Christian Wade could make the ultimate comeback after only returning to the sport earlier this season.
The 31-year-old signed with Racing 92 in September after being released after spending three years with the NFL side Buffalo Bills having quit rugby union and Wasps in 2018.
Wade recently appeared for the French side in a Sevens competition, scoring a couple of tries and now has signed a deal with the Paris club on a one-season deal.
He's since impressed in the Top 14 so much that former teammate Danny Cipriani believes he's the best English winger in the world.
The fly-half wrote on Twitter: "This fella has left the country, had 4 years in a serious professional sport, come back and is still the best winger in England.
"I reckon it's exactly the type of player our national team could do with at the World Cup..."
According to RUCK sources, it is believed that Steve Borthwick has reached out to the quick-footed player, Wade. However, in order to be considered eligible, Wade might have to return to the Premiership.
Reports suggest that Bath is considering the possibility of signing the winger to join Finn Russell, whom they have already recruited from Racing, for the upcoming season.
“Fan-centric innovations” – World Rugby set to introduce law changes for 2023 Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup of 2023 could potentially see the implementation of various law modifications that have undergone trial periods during the 2023 Super Rugby season.
Time restrictions on goal kicks, set pieces and, rucks and a streamlined TMO process are among a raft of fan-centric law innovations set to make the World Cup faster and more fluid than ever before.
Referees will enforce 90 seconds time limits on conversions, 60 seconds for penalty kicks, 30 seconds for scrums and lineouts to be set, and 5 seconds for the ball to be used at rucks, while TMOs will only interrupt play for serious, clear and obvious incidents of foul play.
The key changes are summarised in bullet points below:
The referee will put a stopwatch shot clock on kickers who will have 90 seconds to kick a conversion from the time a try is awarded, and 60 seconds for penalties, from the time the referee signals a shot at goal.
Match officials will expect lineouts and scrums to be formed within 30 seconds of the respective marks being set, and the ball to be used within 5 seconds of a ruck being formed.
Scrum down for Kyle Sinckler of England Rugby during the Six Nations Championship match between England and France at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on March 13 2021. - PHOTO: Micah Crook/PPAUK
TMOs only ‘interrupt’ play to investigate serious, clear and obvious incidents of dangerous play missed by the Match Official team.
Referees can utilise the TMO to make a Yellow Card decision, but any extended TMO video reviews will take place once the player has left the field, not before the Yellow Card is issued.
Referee, Frank Murphy goes to the TMO during the Heineken Champions Cup Match between Bristol Bears and Sale Sharks at Ashton Gate on 15 April. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
The TMO will have 8 minutes to either uphold a 10-minute Yellow Card decision or upgrade it to a 20-minute Red Card, in which case the player will not return to the field, but can still be replaced.
Referees will now also have the power to issue a full Red Card for deliberate foul play, in which case the player will not return to the field and cannot be replaced.
Referee Tom Foley shows a red card to Saracens player Robin Hislop during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Sale Sharks and Saracens at the AJ Bell Stadium on 5th March Photo: Steve Bond/PPAUK
The rugby equivalent of taking a wicket with a rank long hop
This 'cross-kick' from Antoine Gibert salvaged by a remarkable burst from Christian Wade
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