Wasps boss Lee Blackett in dark about potential return for Christian Wade

Wasps boss Lee Blackett is unaware of Christian Wade’s possible return to rugby union after revealing there has been no contact with the club’s acclaimed former wing.

Wade departed the Ricoh Arena for the NFL in 2018 but the move has not worked out and the 30-year-old has been released by the Buffalo Bills, fuelling speculation over his next move.

As the fourth highest try-scorer in Gallagher Premiership history, Wade would be welcomed at any number of clubs and he has hinted on social media that a change might be afoot.

Blackett, however, has placed doubt on the prospect of being reunited with a lightning-fast try machine who spent six years at Wasps from 2011 to 2017 before growing disillusioned at being consistently overlooked by England.

“I love Wadey. He’s a great character, he’s a great finisher. But in terms of coming back to Wasps, or coming back to rugby union, I’ve not heard anything,” the head coach said.

“From a Wasps perspective, we were pretty gutted (when he left) because of the quality player he is, quality person he is.

“He’s one of those guys that when you saw him every day, no matter what he did, he always made you smile.

“There’s still people here who know Wadey really well. You still hear the stories and what people are saying.

“Only the other day there was a lot of people talking about him here. He is someone everyone keeps an eye on.”

Wasps head to Lyon on Saturday as one of only two English sides still fighting in European competition.

Their Challenge Cup semi-final takes place before Saracens visit Toulon, with no Premiership club making it into the last four of the Heineken Champions Cup. Meanwhile, France have four survivors across both competitions.

Blackett downplays the gap between the rival