Technicality could allow Christ Tshiunza play for Wales and Sale Sharks

Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson admits he’s made getting his in-form flanker, Christ Tshiunza, on the plane to the World Cup in Australia next year a priority.

Tshiunza, 24, has been in superb form for the Sharks since his move from Exeter Chiefs, but in the summer was ruled ineligible to play for his country because he falls 10 caps short of the 25-cap minimum to play outside Wales.

He fell victim to a little-known loophole in the regulations, which rules him out of selection after it was deemed that he turned down reasonable offers from the Ospreys and Cardiff to pen a one-year deal with the Manchester-based outfit.

Sanderson said he has spoken to Tshiunza, who won his last of 15 caps in a 12-45 defeat to the Springboks in November 2024, about staying with the Sharks beyond the end of the season.

He says Steve Tandy can pick Tshiunza if none of the four Welsh regions can match an offer from the Sharks, which Rhys Carre and Jarrod Evans have previously profited from.

“I haven’t spoken to Steve Tandy, but we’re definitely in consultation on how we can get him back into the Wales squad and playing in the World Cup is probably top of our agenda for Chris because he’s doing some good stuff for us, isn’t he?

“He desires and wants to play in the World Cup. He wants to play for Wales. And that’s going to motivate him to whatever decision he makes moving forward, but we’ve made it quite clear and obvious: we’d love him to stay.

“The one thing that takes that out of Wales’ hands is what price range we go in at. If it’s a price range above what they’re able to match, then you can play for Wales and will get paid loads of money here.

“But it’s whether or not that price level is something we can fit into our salary cap. That’s what we’re working through right now,” Sanderson told RugbyPass.