It’s been just over a year since Christian Wade, a wing in Premiership Rugby for Wasps who was unable to break into Eddie Jones’ England squad, dumped everything in pursuit of a brand new life in the NFL.

The 28-year-old, deployed as a running-back, lit up social media in early August with an incredible touchdown on his first ever play in pre-season for the Buffalo Bills – a start beyond his wildest dreams. A spot in Buffalo's roster for the regular season did not follow though, and he hasn't played since the summer.

Far from a damaging blow, Wade has been retained as one of 10 practice squad members by the Bills. Though not eligible to play in games, training with the main squad alongside seasoned NFL-pros is a perfect baptism of fire, and Wade knows it. He's in it for the long haul - a return to the safe haven of rugby has not even crossed his mind.

Christian Wade spoke openly about his first 12 months trying to make it in the NFL at Buffalo

LOOK AT WADE GO! 💨 @ChristianWade3 starting preseason with a B A N G 💥



Excited yet, @BuffaloBills 😉 🇬🇧pic.twitter.com/Z2dKwGVbUl — NFL UK (@NFLUK) August 9, 2019

Wade was handed the match-ball after his debut touchdown by Bills coach Sean McDermott

A dose of realism after his glorious moment in the spotlight was inevitable. Raw talent may be one thing, but a deeper understanding of a sport so technically intricate and complex is quite another.

That then may explain Wade’s answer when asked what has surprised him the most over the past 12 months?

‘The amount of meetings they have!’ he admitted.

‘There’s so much detail that goes into it, a lot more preparation than I actually thought. Every play counts for something – if someone doesn’t do what they’re supposed to, it can swing the whole momentum of the game.

‘It’s such a technical sport – but every day I grow to love it even more.’

Wade on his way to scoring a TD against Indianapolis Colts on his first ever play in the NFL

Signed onto the NFL’s International Player Pathway Programme, Wade was allocated a spot on the Bills pre-season squad in April.

Working, or rather learning, under running back coach Kelly Skipper, at one point he was toiling with eight other contenders for the running-back spot.

Yet despite his disappointment at not making the 53-man regular season roster, Wade still considers the past year a resounding success.

‘I’m the weakest link in the room still. I needed the extra attention, and I’ve been working closely with him [Skipper] since I first came into the building,’ said Wade.

Wade in his former career playing rugby union for Wasps, where he was a prolific try-scorer

‘I’ve gone from learning the playbook and getting to grips with that, with now making sure I execute at the highest level.

‘As far as I’m concerned, this year has been a success. To come across, learn the game, practice, score on my first touch – it’s been huge how much I’ve developed.

‘A practice squad player is like an academy player or reserve. I knew coming into this there was going to be an element of going back in time.

‘It’s made it more of a humbling experience, but it gives me the opportunity to keep working on my craft and be in a good position next year.’

A look back to my first ever Football game 🙌🏿 #NFLUndiscovered #NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/demv2n4wtj — Christian Wade (@ChristianWade3) August 14, 2019

Wade, who named star running backs Christian McCaffrey (Carolina Panthers) and Tarik Cohen (Chicago Bears) as the duo he looks up to, repeated throughout his sheer devotion to the sport he now calls ‘football’.

Completely unaware and subsequently dismissive of rumours linking him with Sonny Bill Williams’ new Super League side Toronto Wolfpack, the once-capped England international even struggled to watch the Rugby World Cup in Japan - time-zones the primary reason.

Once pressed on it though, he revealed an unlikely split of affiliation in the final between England and South Africa.

Wade won his first and only England cap on the 2013 tour of Argentina under Stuart Lancaster

‘The English boys were devastated and it’s a shame we couldn’t relive 2003,’ said Wade, who recorded his solitary cap over six years ago in Argentina under Stuart Lancaster.

‘Having said that, some of the South African boys are also guys I know and played with, so I was torn between the two.

‘I’m very proud of Siya Kolisi. He’s one of my boys – we played against each other way back in 2008 when I travelled to South Africa for an Under-18 tour. We had the opportunity to play against each other, and we’ve been friends ever since.’

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi lifts the Rugby World Cup after their final victory over England

Did the global showpiece make him at all sentimental about his previous life as a rugby player then? Not one jolt.

‘People always ask me "do I miss rugby?" but I don’t have time to miss anything, because I’m so engrossed in football.

‘It requires a lot of mental strength, you need to have a large attention span and be able to focus for hours and hours.

‘It’s like climbing a mountain, but I’ve coped with it because I’ve had a 10-year professional career. I’m used to being disciplined.’

Wade with fellow Brit Efe Obada of the Carolina Panthers after an August pre-season game

Although on the fringes, supporting his team-mates on the side-line throughout home games, Wade is by his own account completely immersed in the famous American locker-room culture, a topic he enthusiastically leaps onto.

‘From what I hear, our team at the Bills is like no other team in the NFL. We gel, we mix. It’s all about love, accountability and respect.

‘It’s a unique, special place. No matter where we come from or how much money we’re earning, we’re all on that same level, trying to achieve the W. It’s testament to how we’re doing every week.'

And boy are the Bills flying. Standing at 8-3 following a thrashing of the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Buffalo are second in the AFC East division behind the indomitable New England Patriots.

Coach Sean McDermott has guided Buffalo to an 8-3 record and on the verge of a play-off spot

Wade has bought into the whole team ethos at the Bills despite not featuring on the field

With a play-off spot within their grasps as the season hits Thanksgiving, the franchise and their supporters could be forgiven for looking ahead to the post-season, and maybe even February’s Super Bowl in Miami.

That is the peak of the sport: the top of Everest to use Wade's mountain analogy. Though undoubtedly determined and resolute, with a potential which is sky-high, Christian Wade has realistically only reached Base Camp.

‘I came into it with an open-mind, knowing I had a huge mountain to climb. There’s been days when I’ve thought "this is really tough" but I still trust the process. It’s been a huge eye-opener.’

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