BREAKING: Christian Wade rejects opportunity to return to England

After pursuing his NFL aspirations, the 31-year-old made a successful return to rugby this season, impressing in the Top 14 league by scoring seven tries in nine games for the Parisian club.

Initially brought in as injury cover for Regan Grace, a former rugby league player who endured consecutive Achilles injuries, Wade's performance has convinced incoming head coach Stuart Lancaster and future Racing 92 chairman Laurent Travers to retain him for the next season, while releasing Grace from his contract, according to reports from L'Equipe.

Whether Grace will seek a contract elsewhere in rugby union or potentially make a return to rugby league with St Helens remains uncertain.

Despite being on the Racing 92 roster, the 26-year-old has yet to make an appearance for the team.

Furthermore, there have been speculations that Grace could be a surprise inclusion in Warren Gatland's selection for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The 2013 British & Irish Lion quit Wasps in order to pursue a lucrative career in the NFL, having grown disillusioned with rugby union. The 29-year-old was one of the most recognised names in the domestic game, but his continued absence from the international set-up – having won just one England cap on the 2013 tour of Argentina – had left him frustrated and fed up of continuously being overlooked. What a waste.

The playmaker was the beating heart of that splendid Wasps side in the early 2000's who won a hat-trick of Premiership titles and two Heineken Cups. After his successes in conducting a back line on the field, he later turned his accomplished hand to conducting from the coaches' box, most recently joining Gloucester after stints with Clermont, Northampton, Montpellier and Wales.

In a different life the flanker would have amassed over 50 caps, but due to his decision to play his rugby in the Top 14 he'll end his career with five. Even though Armitage has won three European titles with Toulon and a European Player of the Year award, he has not played for England since 2010.

The speedster was always a fan favourite and narrowly missed out on selection for the 2003 World Cup, despite being involved in the all-conquering England team of the 2002 Autumn Internationals. Although heralded as a potential world-class wing, injury constantly blighted his career and he ended his career with a pitiful 10 caps.

After making his England debut in the 2008 Six Nations, Danny Cipriani appeared to have the rugby world at his feet. The then-21-year-old produced a magnificent display as England thumped Ireland 33-10; surely England had found the heir apparent for legend Jonny Wilkinson.

Sadly this was not the case as controversy after controversy followed, meaning despite his incredible talent ,the 32-year-old has accumulated just 16 caps.