Try record tempted Wade to Newcastle - Diamond

Christian Wade scored 11 tries in the 2024-25 season for Gloucester

Newcastle Red Bulls director of rugby Steve Diamond says the lure of becoming the all-time leading try-scorer in Prem Rugby has convinced Christian Wade to return to rugby union.

Wade will join Red Bulls in December when his short-term contract with rugby league side Wigan Warriors ends.

The 34-year-old has scored 93 tries for Wasps and Gloucester and is only eight short of Chris Ashton, the current record-holder with 101.

"I did a bit of homework on Chris and realised he's a great athlete," Diamond told BBC Look North East.

"With that tag of him just being off the leading try-scorer, I thought it might be worth a phone call.

"I met him a couple of times and he thinks it's the right thing. I think he'll be a great addition."

Wade is the most high-profile of the players Newcastle have signed since the Red Bull takeover went through last month.

The new arrivals have moved to Kingston Park on one and two-year contracts as Diamond has worked to build a competitive squad, albeit playing catch-up with the rest of the league.

Speaking on the day new kits and a new logo have been launched, Diamond says that the new ownership has been "fundamentally a game changer" for every aspect of the club.

But with Newcastle have been finished bottom of the league in the last three seasons, stability is the key part of what they want this season.

"Red Bull are experienced at buying sports clubs," he said. "They understand there has not been much investment in rugby especially, but in Newcastle over the last few years, so we'll be looking to get the infrastructure right.

"Their expectations are, 'we're in it and over the next five years, we're in it to win it,'" said the former Sale Sharks and Worcester Warriors boss.

"But what they have tasked me with is a shorter goal of his season, let's get square blocks in square holes and make sure it's really stable."