Christian Wade will make his first appearance in Wigan Warriors colours this evening when he turns out for the club’s reserves. The rugby union convert joined up with Wigan earlier this week after agreeing to join the club on a short-term deal once his spell with Gloucester came to end.
Gloucester’s season ended on Saturday, with Wade scoring two tries for the Kingsholm club in victory over Northampton Saints. That wasn’t enough to secure a play-off spot, though, and that freed up Wade to make the switch to Super League this week.
It seems he has wasted no time in linked up with Matt Peet’s side and the former Buffalo Bills running back will get his first taste of rugby league this evening. Wigan’s second string travel to West Yorkshire to face their Castleford Tigers counterparts at The Jungle and the fixture provides the perfect opportunity to give Wade an experience of the 13-man code.
Of course, having just come from rugby union and given his build, Wade is expected to have no problem with the physicality of the sport. Instead, the reserves run out will allow him to get to grips with league and the differences that exist between the two codes.
He’ll start on the wing, of course, with the number two on his back, and he’ll be joined in the fold by a number of promising young Wigan players who have been given opportunities in the first-team fold this season.
Christian Wade to feature for Wigan Warriors reserves
Tom Forber and Jack Farrimond are arguably the two players closest to Matt Peet’s senior group, but Harvey Makin has picked up Super League minutes with Salford this season and Jacob Douglas and Kian McDermott are among those to have earned senior opportunities this season too.
Eyes will be on George Hirst, too, with the back-rower being the only player Wigan Warriors signed over the off-season. He joined from Oldham before being loaned back to the Championship club at the start of the campaign.
Should Wade impress in his first rugby league game, it seems he could well be in consideration for a debut next weekend when the Cherry and Whites take on Huddersfield Giants in Dewsbury.
📋 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦
Your Warriors Reserves to take on Castleford Tigers tonight, which includes a first start for Christian Wade!👊#WWRL pic.twitter.com/KFBYY9wgOL
— Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) June 5, 2025
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Eric T Cat
June 5, 2025 at 4:12 pm
In .union the ball is in play for about 35/80 minutes, in League about 55/80 minutes. A basic head on tackle in League is a penalty in Union. With all the will in the world it will take him two months to catch up on fitness. Just playing in the reserves his lungs are going to be begging for mercy after the first half. He’s going to be busy, every team is going to target his wing. Just keeping up with defence will be incredibly hard to adapt to, positionally the demands are different. If he was 20-24 then this might work, but I don’t think he’ll have the longevity of career to make this worthwhile. How ling until he’s on loan at a League 1 club? Iii