1
Sale give a 2024/25 contract update on George Ford, Manu Tuilagi
Alex Sanderson has given his most optimistic indication yet that both George Ford and Manu Tuilagi will be playing for Sale next season. Out-half Ford signed a three-year deal to move to the Sharks from Leicester in the summer of 2022, but an option regarding the third season of that contract has resulted in him being linked to a potential switch to the Top 14.
ADVERTISEMENT
Tuilagi, meanwhile, only agreed on a one-year extension with Sale to cover the current 2023/24 campaign, but Sanderson expects both England players to stay at the Manchester club next term.
“George’s negotiations are entirely down to him,” explained the head coach at Wednesday evening media briefing ahead of next Sunday’s Champions Cup opener at home to Stade Francais.
“There is a contract in place, it’s just a player option, and from what I hear he is very happy and agreed on terms, we have just got to make it official… That is what I am anticipating from what I have heard.
“That’s George. Last year was supposed to be Manu’s last year but with Jono Ross leaving and Coenie (Oosthuizen) going back (to South Africa), some money in the pot opened up. It was like, ‘Right, brilliant, we can keep you’.
“Then when he came back from the World Cup I was like, ‘Right, how are you feeling? You reckon you have got another year in you?’ I don’t know how we are going to do it still, but he is like, ‘Let’s get back on the field and go for another steak’, so we will chat over a glass of wine.
?? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?? …
Our focus is on Sunday. Europe, we’re circling ?.
Be there on Sunday as @SFParisRugby arrive up North for our first @ChampionsCup challenge ?
Don’t miss it! Tickets available below ?.
— Sale Sharks ? (@SaleSharksRugby) December 4, 2023
“I have an IMAX deal with the wingers over hat-tricks. I have got a similar deal that Manu just struck up today [Wednesday] around bottles of wine. I don’t know if it’s the right way to go about it but it is certainly motivating him around big hits and energy giving. If he can out-enthuse George Ford this weekend, I’m going to buy him a nice bottle of red. So watch this space.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Having returned from England’s bronze medal World Cup campaign with a fractured hand, Tuilagi is fit and up for selection to face Stade at the AJ Bell this Sunday in what would be his first appearance for the club this season.
After having too many Test rugby campaigns ruined by injury, the 32-year-old enjoyed a rejuvenated run at France 2023 where he started six of his country’s seven matches and despite his recent broken hand, he is champing at the bit to be involved in a Champions Cup campaign where Gallagher Premiership leaders Sale also have matches versus Leinster, the Stormers and defending champions La Rochelle.
“He is more enthusiastic, more energetic than most of the 19- and 20-year-olds we have got knocking around the place,” reckoned Sanderson. “His want and desire to play and play again in this Champions Cup on the back of the World Cup, it’s quite astonishing really because it is always the drive that goes first.
“He is loving it. He is loving playing, he is loving being out there, he is probably loving the time he gets to spend away from his house – he has just got a newly-born baby so he gets a bit of a respite. He is bouncing around today, back-slapping and high-fiving, just looking like a guy 10 years younger than he is.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Comments on RugbyPass
Fiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to comments