Sale Sharks land Raffi Quirke replacement 'at the peak of his powers'

Sale Sharks have signed Chiefs and All Blacks XV scrum-half Xavier Roe ahead of next season, as reported by RugbyPass.

The 27-year-old, who represented the All Blacks XV against the Barbarians last year, will link up with his new side at the end of the current Super Rugby Pacific season, where the Chiefs sit in second place.

Sale announced on Tuesday that a cohort of 20 players will be leaving the club in the coming weeks, with England scrum-half Raffi Quirke and fellow No.9 Nye Thomas part of that group. While Sale have been busy with their recruitment drive ahead of next season, the Kiwi is the only scrum-half set to join at this moment in time.

With two rounds remaining in the Gallagher PREM, Roe will be hoping his future team-mates can secure a top-eight finish, which would mean he plays Investec Champions Cup rugby in his debut season.

Sale currently sit in seventh place in the league, four points ahead of ninth-place Gloucester, ahead of their final two fixtures against bottom-place Newcastle Red Bull and Bristol Bears.

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Gallagher Premiership

Newcastle

45 - 42

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“I’ve been at the Chiefs for a long time and I’m at a stage in my career where I want to try something new,” Roe said. “I want to experience a new environment, new players and another country and I can’t wait to get started at an awesome club like Sale Sharks.

“I know Sale has a very good forward pack, which is great for a scrum-half, but I was really impressed with what Alex said about the way the club has a real family feel off the field.

“I like to think I’m a game driver and I know how to put the team in the right areas of the pitch. I think when I was younger I was a running half-back but I’ve learned the importance of giving the forwards a platform so they can do their thing.

“There are so many fantastic international players at Sale and I can’t wait to get going.”

Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson added: “Xavier will bring real quality to the squad. He’s maybe not a player all of our fans will know too much about but if you scratch below the surface of the current All Blacks squad, he’s right there and you don’t get there unless you’re absolute quality.

“His delivery is excellent and his ability to be the bridge between the forwards and backs is excellent, as is his kicking game and his decision-making.

“It’s a big move for him and a big commitment to come over, but we’re getting him at the peak of his powers and we’re really exciting to get him here to see what he can do.”