Wasps winger Christian Wade is understood to have quit rugby in order to pursue a career in the NFL.
Wade, who is third in the Premiership's all-time try scorers list having scored 82 tries in 130 matches, reportedly informed Wasps of his decision Thursday night. He was no longer listed as a member of Wasps' senior squad on the club's website Friday morning, although the Premiership side have yet to announce that Wade has officially left the team.
Despite his consistent try-scoring form in the Premiership, Wade has been continually overlooked by England head coach Eddie Jones and has not been given the opportunity to add to his solitary full Test appearance.
It now appears that Wade is fully prepared to give up on his England ambitions in order to give the NFL a crack, and is aiming to join former rugby players such as Christian Scotland-Williamson in making the move stateside.
Wade spent time working with an NFL-style footwork coach nicknamed Speedy Gonzalez in New Jersey this summer. The 27-year-old reached out to Gonzalez during a holiday to the U.S. after seeing clips on Instagram of the coach working with players such as Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mohamed Sanu.
The NFL's U.K. office declined to comment on the story when contacted by ESPN Friday morning.
Wade's reported departure from Wasps comes as the Tennessee Titans face the Los Angeles Chargers in the NFL London Series at Wembley Stadium Sunday.
At the Titans' practice at Syon House, London Friday afternoon, head coach Mike Vrabel said that although it is difficult to make the transition from another sport to the NFL, it can be done given time.
"Rugby is new to us, but I understand the sport," Vrabel said. "It's played at my son's high school and some of his friends on the school's football team play. It seems that there is some carry-over [between the sports].
"But at the professional level it is a lot more difficult. They would have to work him [Wade] out and see.
"I played with a guy who was a national champion wrestler and in a few years they made him an offensive guard and he protected Tom Brady for nine seasons.
"So it can be done. You just have to find the right position. It takes time. You can't just make the transition and then in three months you're a starter.
"But in the NFL we have practice squads and different things to develop players, that don't force you to have him in the active roster."