Ex-England winger Christian Wade has spoken out about how tackles in the NFL hurt more, than compared to playing professional rugby. The former Wasps wing swapped rugby for American football back in 2018, when he was signed as a running back for the Buffalo Bills.
Former Wales and Gloucester wing Louis Rees-Zammit recently announced his decision to quit rugby, and is currently working his way through the NFL’s International Player Pathway. Wade has issued a warning to Rees-Zammit, about how the tackles in American football can come far harder than in rugby. Speaking to BitcoinCasinos Wade said:
“A hard NFL tackle hurts more than a hard rugby tackle, for sure. With the pads themselves, getting hit with a pad, helmet, or grill, a kneecap, you’re not getting that in rugby. Guys are not going to dive head first at your knees.
“My biggest warning to Rees-Zammit is to learn how to protect yourself, especially on specialties, when you’re sprinting down the field. You’re usually sprinting with your head on a swivel because you have somebody else that has an assignment to stop you. They are looking to make a real shot on you.
“They also have a look-off block. You’re not looking but I’ve set you up so that it’s a shock when you do. You need to be prepared so you can win collisions.”
A clear and obvious difference between rugby and American football is the padding. In rugby union, the furthest extent of protective gear is rather thin foam body armour that is rarely seen these days. Ireland and Leinster fly half Harry Byrne donned the pads in yesterday’s win against Italy, in what was a rare appearence for body armour in the modern game. Other than that, rugby players are limited to a scrum cap or head tape (optional) and a gum shield to protect your teeth.
In American football, players are equipped with a full on helmet with a face-cage, shoulder pads, chest and back plates, knee pads and a ‘girdle’ of padding across the hips and thighs. Gum shields are also worn, yet Wade admitted that despite the heavy padding there is ,ittle cushioning, as the hits come just as hard.
“The pads are there but they are not really doing anything. You have guys who are 300lbs, athletic, powerful, strong and running at you trying to kill you. When you get hit by those dudes it’s pretty damaging!
“In rugby we’re not wearing pads or helmets, but there is an element of technique that’s involved. If you get caught really well it’s going to hurt but it’s different. I got tackled where I got a helmet to my forearm, and if I press in the right spot it still feels fresh. It’s crazy. I remember getting hit from the side and the pain just shot across me, my joint was in so much pain.
“It all varies really. In the NFL, like rugby, you have to protect yourself, but in the NFL you need to know how to protect yourself more because of the way guys can come in at any angle. There are no safety measures of tackling above the shoulder, anything goes. There are some tackles that I thought were dangerous, where they can just dive at your knees.
“You just have to know how to protect yourself when you’re out there. Fall correctly when you’re going into collision, get compact, get your pad high, there are a lot of things that go into protecting yourself that I had to learn fast.”
Wade made a handful of appearances at running-back, but due to picking up some injuries his momentum was hindered when based in Buffalo. Wade was dropped to the injury reserve list, and spent the remaining few seasons as a predominant member of the Bills practice squad. Wade is supportive of Rees-Zammit’s push to play in the NFL, and gave some positional advice on how he could succeed to be a regular face on a match day squad.
“With Rees-Zammit’s speed and agility, I think the positions he mentioned, running back and wide receiver, make sense for him. You would call them the skill positions. To play defence is very difficult, especially if you don’t know the game as well or haven’t grown up playing it.
“As long as you know your job and your routes and you can read and understand if they are playing man or zone, then you’re putting yourself in a good position. But those two positions will be his best opportunity to learn as much as possible.
“The way for him to get game time will be proving himself to special teams. Everyone wants to be the star. A bit like football, no one wants to go in goal. It’s like that in the NFL everyone wants to be the receiver or the running back, but special teams is where you can really make your mark and earn a position to get on the field.
“Those are the positions that will work for him, or at least get him that introduction to finding which position is best for him. Special teams and playing kick-off return, maybe put him as a 5 to use his speed to get down the field. There are so many different positions for him, and ultimately the skills he needs to learn for running back will cross over into specialities. It’s a complicated game but as he trains he will see how they cross over.”
Speaking on the ongoing Six Nations, Wade identified how Italy back-row Sebastian Negri would be well suited to an American football career change. Hopefully for Azzurri fans, Negri is staying put on the Italian blindside, but Wade sees transferable qualities in the flanker.
“There is one guy I was watching on (Netflix) Full Contact, which I just finished. There was an episode on Sebastian Negri, and I was thinking wow, he’s definitely one who would be cool in the NFL because of his size, power and determination.
“He looks about 300lbs, around 6ft 4ins or 6ft 5ins, and I’m like he is someone who you could put in as a tight-end. Teach him how to be a tight-end, a hybrid between a receiver and running back too, they would all suit him, as long as he’s good at catching!”