Christian Wade six tries from Premiership record with sights set on Ashton's mark

Christian Wade is six tries away from becoming the highest try-scorer in Premiership history, sitting on 95 touchdowns for Newcastle Red Bulls and closing in on Chris Ashton’s record of 101.

The 34-year-old would almost certainly have broken the mark already had he not spent six years away from English rugby — first in the NFL, then in France and Rugby League — before returning to the Premiership with Newcastle. Despite that lengthy detour, Wade remains the competition’s most prolific finisher and is now openly targeting the record this season.

“It would mean a lot to me to get that record,” Wade said. “I pride myself on scoring tries, and I get paid to do so. It’s always been part of my DNA. I’ve spoken to Ash, and we agree it is awesome to score tries, but also how hard it is to consistently do so.”

Wade is aware that a new generation of finishers is accelerating up the all-time list. Max Malins (63), Ollie Hassell-Collins (62), Caden Murley (57), Tommy Freeman (54) and Adam Radwan (46) are all accumulating tries at a pace that reflects a dramatically changed game. The average number of tries per Premiership match has risen from 2.3 sixteen years ago to 8.6 last season.

“The way guys are running in tries now is crazy,” Wade said. “It’s a different game and much quicker. More teams are throwing the ball around and doing the exciting stuff.”

He is under no illusions about what it takes to stay at the top of the scoring charts as defenders wise up to his game. “You get away with things when you are young because people don’t know you so well,” he said. “But over time they start to try and make plans to stop you. You have to keep re-inventing yourself each year and adding to your toolbox to make it harder for them to stop you.”

Wade, who made his name at Wasps and also had a spell at Gloucester, admits the milestone once seemed unthinkable. “Coming through, I would never have seen myself as top Premiership try scorer one day. I’d have thought that was way out of reach. But when I was about 25, I was third in the list, and I started to catch the top guys. That is when it became a priority. But then I decided to quit the sport for six years! I’m just grateful that the opportunity to become No. 1 is still there, and I will see if I can get it this year.”