Gloucester’s new winger Christian Wade has set his sights on breaking the Premiership try-scoring record as he makes his return to the league this season.
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Wade, who crossed the line against Bristol at Ashton Gate tonight, now has 83 Premiership tries to his name, placing him fifth on the all-time list. He is 18 tries short of overtaking Chris Ashton, who leads with 101.
The 33-year-old, formerly of Wasps, is back in English rugby after a six-year stint away, during which he pursued a career in the NFL before a return to the sport with French side Racing 92.
“It is in my sights and I obviously want to go for it,” Wade told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
“I am not thinking about it now. Once I get closer then it’s like ‘I’ve one or two more to go’.”
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BACK-THREE
Fullback: Matt Perry (England) – He proudly won 36 caps for England, three for the Lions in Australia in 2001, and made an eye watering 221 appearances scoring 561 points for Bath Rugby between 1995 and his enforced retirement in 2007, at that point the Club’s longest serving player.
Winger: Jonah Lomu (New Zealand) – Arguably one of the greatest players ever to step on a rugby field, Lomu was one of the most devastating players of his era. Weighing in at 120kg, Lomu was a formidable force on the wing, scoring 37 tries in 63 appearances for his New Zealand.
Winger: Shane Williams (Wales) – He is Wales’ most capped winger with 87 to his name. In 2008, Williams was selected as the World Rugby Player of the Year. Renowned for his pace, side-step and runs, he went on to become one of the best wingers in world rugby and one of Wales’ all-time greats.
CENTRES
Outside-centre: Conrad Smith (New Zealand) – He possessed an eye for the gap unlike many others in the game, frequently being seen ghosting past defences with ease. His quality handling and kicking game made him the complete attacker, frequently creating space for wingers around him. Smith retired from Test Rugby after the 2015 Rugby World Cup and ended his international career with 94 Test Caps, 2 Rugby World Cup Titles and 26 tries.
Inside-Centre: Jean de Villiers (South Africa) – De Villiers is deceptively quick, has superb handling skills and has an uncanny knack for intercept tries. In 2014 he became the fifth South African to reach 100 Test caps for the Springboks. He was named South African Rugby Player of the Year in 2008 and 2013.