Saracens agree deal to sign George Martin after Sale snubbed

Saracens have agreed a deal to sign and snatch Leicester Tigers and England lock George Martin from under the noses of Gallagher PREM rivals Sale Sharks.

Nottingham-born Martin, 24, has been out of action since February after being injured against France in the Six Nations and has had an operation on nerve damage in his shoulder, and he is due back in action in the New Year.

The move to North London next season is subject to Martin, a member of the England side that lost the 2023 Rugby World Cup semi-final to South Africa, and who has won 22 caps, passing a medical.

The Sharks were the first team to make a move for Martin, who has made 73 appearances for the Tigers, but they failed to get a deal across the line despite him being keen to leave Welford Road.

It is understood that the Tigers haven’t offered a new deal to Martin, who extended his contract with the club after the World Cup, which opened the door for Saracens to make a move and heap more transfer misery on the Sharks.

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Sale

26 - 27

Full-time

Exeter Chiefs

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The Sharks, who have lost several second rows in the last year with Jean-Luc du Preez moving to Bordeaux, Jonny Hill to Racing 92, and Josh Beaumont to retirement, while Le Roux Roets was freed from his contract earlier in this season. It made it a key area for the Sharks to recruit in and strengthen, but they are now set to have to return to the drawing board, and not for the first time in this season.

Sharks boss Alex Sanderson has already seen England and the Lions scrum half Alex Mitchell turn down a move to the North-West, while England international Chandler Cunningham-South penned a new deal with Harlequins.

Martin, who was one of 17 players to be awarded an enhanced England Elite Player Squad contract in October 2024, retained the contract this season despite being ruled out of the Autumn international campaign through injury.