From Premiership tries to Super League ties—Christian Wade is heading back to rugby league.
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Lions star goes northern
British & Irish Lions tourist and one of Premiership Rugby’s deadliest finishers, Christian Wade, is making the switch to Super League after agreeing a sensational move to Wigan Warriors.
Currently finishing out the season with Gloucester, Wade will join the Warriors once the Premiership campaign wraps up, bolstering their squad for the business end of the Betfred Super League season.
From NFL to RL via the Cherry and Whites
Wade, 32, famously took a break from rugby union to pursue a career in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, before returning to English rugby in 2022. His electric pace and eye for the try-line never faded, and he quickly found his feet back in the Premiership.
Tipped by some for an international recall before the move, the one-cap England winger was part of the 2013 Lions tour to Australia and still ranks among the top try-scorers in English top-flight history.
Wigan thrilled with blockbuster signing
Wigan chief executive Kris Radlinski couldn’t hide his excitement at the coup:
“The new Talent Pool Exemption was created precisely for this type of recruitment. Christian is an exceptional athlete with highly transferable skills suited to rugby league. His impressive track record speaks for itself, and we are genuinely excited about the impact he can make throughout the remainder of the 2025 season.”
Wigan legend Martin Offiah, who himself left rugby union to join Widnes in 1987, said Wade's signing was big for the sport.
"Wigan's signing of Christian Wade is the biggest coup for the sport of rugby league since Jonathan Davies joined me at Widnes back in the 80s," he said.
Keep your eyes peeled—Wade’s rugby league journey is about to begin.
5 Big-Name Stars Set to Miss Out on the Lions Squad – Including Finn Russell!
With the 2025 British & Irish Lions squad announcement just around the corner, the rumour mill is already in overdrive. Andy Farrell’s selection promises to be one of the boldest in recent history—and not everyone is safe.
While some players have all but booked their tickets to Australia, others are sweating bullets. Whether it’s poor form, fierce competition, or a coach with long memories, a few major names could be on the chopping block.
Here are five shock omissions we think are on the cards—and why their Lions dreams might be dead before the squad is even named…
1. Russell's Rollercoaster Could Crash Early
Finn Russell (Scotland)
Moments of magic? Always. But consistency? Not so much. Russell’s 2025 Six Nations was a mixed bag at best. A missed conversion against England and a disastrous showing versus France have left serious questions about his big-game temperament.
Add in the appointment of Johnny Sexton as Lions assistant coach, and things start looking bleak. In his autobiography, Sexton slammed Russell’s 2021 selection as a media-driven hype job—and he hasn’t softened since.
“If you want someone reliable in the trenches, you go with Owen Farrell,” Sexton recently told The Times, taking a not-so-subtle dig at Russell’s “flashy” style. He even spared Marcus Smith, calling him a “generational talent.” Finn? Not so lucky.
2. Ringrose Running Out of Time
Garry Ringrose (Ireland)
Not long ago, Ringrose looked like a nailed-on Lion. But a rocky Six Nations campaign could have sunk his chances. He was solid in Ireland’s first couple of games, then saw red against Wales and missed the crunch clash with France. His return against Italy? Ropey.
He’s still a classy operator on his day, but with Farrell spoiled for choice in the midfield, Ringrose may find himself edged out by younger, more in-form options.
3. Slade Slide May Prove Terminal
Henry Slade (England)
Once considered one of England’s most gifted backs, Slade’s stock has taken a major hit. His partnership with Ollie Lawrence was under heavy scrutiny heading into the Six Nations—and despite some signs of improvement, it didn’t last.
Fraser Dingwall took his place in the England squad, and now Slade’s international future—and Lions hopes—look grim. Having already missed out on the 2023 World Cup, the Exeter man may once again fall victim to poor form at the worst possible time.
4. Ritchie Rich... But Is It Enough?
Jamie Ritchie (Scotland)
He was one of Scotland’s top performers in the Six Nations—but that might not be enough. The Lions back-row battle is absolutely brutal this year, and with Jack Willis tearing it up in France, Farrell might favour more dominant ball-carriers and jackalers.
Ritchie has leadership and work rate in spades, but he could become the unlucky victim of ridiculous depth in one of the tour’s most hotly contested positions.
5. O'Mahony's Last Dance Could Be In The Studio
Peter O’Mahony (Ireland)
The veteran flanker rolled back the years against Scotland, delivering one of the performances of the tournament—but that flash of vintage POM might have been his swan song. His form faded fast, and a tough showing against France left fans wondering if the tank’s finally empty.
He’s since hung up his boots for Ireland, and unless Farrell is picking on nostalgia, O'Mahony is more likely to be analysing Lions games for Sky Sports than playing in them.
Can You Name These 10 Legendary British & Irish Lions?
Test your rugby knowledge and see how many of these iconic Lions players you can name! You’ve got 4 minutes on the clock—think fast!
Let’s see if you can nail this quiz and prove you’re a true rugby expert. Ready? Let’s go!
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