Christian Wade sends warning to Chris Ashton over all-time PREM Rugby try record - ‘I’m still in the running’

Wade was Newcastle Red Bulls’ most eye-catching arrival following the club’s takeover by the energy drinks giant.

The 34-year-old’s eclectic career has taken him from Wasps, Gloucester Rugby and Racing 92 to a three-year spell in the NFL and a recent stint with rugby league side Wigan Warriors.

Wade returned to rugby union motivated by a desire to break Ashton’s PREM record of 101 tries. Having scored three times this term, his tally of 94 leaves him just seven short of Ashton’s mark.

Speaking to Ashton ahead of Newcastle Red Bulls' encounter with Bristol Bears, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, Wade said: ”I would say 2018 [was when I first targeted the record]. 

”But then obviously I decided to retire from rugby and that’s when the record changed. 

”You obviously took the record. And then when I came back I was like, ‘I’m still in the running here. Maybe there’s an opportunity to go for it.’”

Longevity, Wade claims, is what sets him and Ashton apart from their counterparts.

”There are some guys that for maybe one or two seasons, you think ‘you can’t stop this guy’, but to be able to do it every year [is the difference,]” Wade said. 

”I remember when I first came to the league, you have that first good year, and then people start talking about [whether you’d suffer from] second year syndrome. 

”Once [the opposition] figured out what it is they need to be aware of and once that second year came, I was always trying to find ways to alter my game or add to it, so it wasn’t so one-dimensional. 

”That’s something that helps to make you consistent. There are different ways you can score and find your way to the try line.”

Wade was positive about Newcastle’s performances, despite his side being rooted at the foot of the table and having last week been thrashed by Leicester Tigers 62-3.

”With Red Bull coming in, the funding is there now,” Wade said. ”We’re building from ground zero. 

”In terms of my experience of different sports - to be able to bring that into the planning stage - I’m really excited about being able to add value in that way. 

”We’ve been taking some tough losses, but I think the manner in which we’re playing, people can see the difference from the Newcastle of before - our attacking shape, the way we’re connecting with each other and putting teams under pressure in a way they haven’t seen before.”

Watch and stream the Gallagher PREM, Autumn Nations Series and Premiership Women's Rugby live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.