Christian Wade has been advised by ex-Wigan star Chris Ashton not to wear tights in rugby league – but Martin Offiah has urged the Gloucester winger: “Just be yourself… don’t listen to anyone else!”
Wade, 33, will join the defending Super League champions in June when Gloucester’s Premiership campaign ends.
The short-term deal will take Wade until the end of the season with Matt Peet’s men and will see him play rugby league for the first time.
Tongue-in-cheek advice
Ashton – who left Wigan for Northampton in 2007 and went on to enjoy a hugely successful career in the 15-a-side code – offered Wade some tongue-in-cheek advice last weekend.
During TNT Sports’ coverage of Gloucester‘s stunning 79-17 demolition of Exeter Chiefs on Sunday, Wade scored his 90th Premiership career try.
He was resplendent in a pair of tights and Ashton said on commentary: “There is one thing that I would recommend to Christian Wade before he goes to rugby league and it’s ‘I wouldn’t be wearing the tights’.
“It’s not advisable. I get it’s here and it’s kind of accepted in the rugby union world.
“They might not have that kind of approach in the rugby league world. That’d be my only bit of advice for him.”
Yet Offiah has responded to Ashton’s claim by telling Wade to do whatever he wants.
The legendary former winger told Planet Rugby: “In response to this story, my advice to Christian Wade is ‘be yourself, don’t let anyone else tell you what to do, what you should and shouldn’t wear!’.
“Just go in there at Wigan and be you because if you try and change and listen to other people then you won’t be your authentic self.
“When I crossed codes and left rugby union in 1987, the first game of rugby league I ever saw live was the one I played in.
“I was a novice but I won the Man of Steel and was the top try-scorer in my first season.
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“Why? I did what I wanted to do. I didn’t do what other people told me to.
“I just figured it out for myself, so don’t listen to outside noise even if it’s well intended.
“Christian Wade is a unique talent – a excitement machine – and the greatest union convert since Jonathan Davies left Wales back in the late 1980s to join me at Widnes.”
Offiah has a lot of respect for Ashton, who starred for England in both codes and is rated as one of the most successful converts from league to union.
The 38-year-old Wiganer is the record try-scorer in Premiership history with 101.
Offiah, who scored an incredible 501 career tries, said: “I know Chris Ashton was a quality player.
“And I know he’s giving Christian advice because he wants him to stay in league and not come back to union and break his Premiership try-scoring record!
“Like I said, Christian just needs to be himself and I’ve told him as much.
“When Christian signed for Wigan and was unveiled before the Good Friday derby win against St Helens a couple of weeks ago, I spent some time with him.
“He came up to Wigan and myself, Christian, his partner and Matty Peet went out for dinner together at Albert’s in Standish.
History lesson
“I was telling Christian about the history of the Wigan club and everything we have achieved, including winning a rugby union competition, the legends that have played here, and why Wigan is the greatest rugby league club in the history of the game.
“I also shared with him some of my own journey of how I shook up the rugby league world and how no-one has scored more tries than me since I stepped on a rugby field.
“So I’d say ‘take my advice, be yourself because that’s the only way you’re going to truly succeed’.”
“But Christian knows this because I’ve told him. I’m excited about what he will bring to Wigan when he arrives in the coming weeks.”
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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/christian-wade-taken-under-martin-offiahs-wing-as-wigan-warriors-legend-responds-to-chris-ashton-advice
