Sale Sharks bring in ex-Ireland U20 hooker to fix crisis

Sale Sharks have signed hooker Tadgh McElroy on a deal that will run until the end of the season.

The 27-year-old has recently had a short stint with Ulster after leaving Connacht at the end of last season.

An injury to Tommy Taylor alongside Luke Cowan-Dickie being called up by England has meant that Sale’s stocks in the No 2 department have been threadbare in the opening weeks of the season, and resulted in 20-year-old Harry Thompson starting on the bench in Sale’s loss to Northampton Saints on Saturday.

This will not be McElroy’s first taste of the Gallagher Premiership, as he started his professional career with Saracens, and has had spells with Bristol Bears and London Irish.

The move will see the former Ireland U20 hooker reunite with Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson, who was his coach at Saracens.

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“Tadgh is someone I know from my time at Saracens, so I know how good he is,” Sanderson said. “He’s fantastic in the set-piece and he was very well regarded in the Ireland set-up. This move works really well for both parties.

“He’s moved around a few clubs in the past few years but he’s really keen to put down some roots and while this is a deal until the end of the season, we’d love to give Tadgh the chance to find a new home longer term.

“I’m really excited to see him go and I think he can make a big contribution.”