Former England rugby union player Christian Wade has signed for the Buffalo Bills, the team said on Monday.
Wade quit English Premiership rugby side Wasps in October to join the NFL’s International Pathway Program, which offers players from outside of the U.S. a route into the league.
The former winger trained alongside six other International Pathway prospects at a camp in Florida and clocked a 4.53 40-yard dash at his Pro Day in Tampa last week. He joins the NFL as a running back.
Wade, 27, was expected to be up for selection at the NFL Draft later this month but has signed for the Bills — who finished with a 6-10 record last season.
Welcome to the NFL 🏈 @ChristianWade3 signs with the @buffalobills 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/pMpzZ5NY6q
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) April 8, 2019
The Bills, as well as the other three AFC East teams, will each get a roster exemption from the NFL, meaning they get an additional spot on their roster for the 2019 season.
“We’ve been allocated RB Christian Wade as part of the International Player Pathway program,” the Bills tweeted following the announcement.
Wade retired from the English Premiership third on the all-time try scorers list, having scored 82 tries in 130 matches. Despite his consistent try-scoring form, he was continually overlooked for England selection and only received a solitary international Test cap.