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When Sale expect Xavier Roe back after flying home to New Zealand
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Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson admits he will be without scrum-half Xavier Roe for another two or three games after Roe returned to New Zealand, where his partner Ruby is due to give birth to their first child next week.
The former New Zealand U20 signed a two-year deal with the Sharks in the summer, scored a try in the win over Bath in the PREM Rugby Cup, and returned home after the opening weekend defeat to Bristol Bears.
He missed last weekend’s win over Saracens and will miss the visits of Harlequins and Glasgow Warriors in the Champions Cup, with a return likely either away to Newcastle Red Bulls or when Sale entertain Bath at the end of the month.
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Sanderson said part of the agreement when Roe, 27, signed from the Chiefs was that he would be allowed to return home in plenty of time for the birth before returning to the North West.
“I think Newcastle or Bath; that’s what we’re hoping for if there are no complications. The travel takes two days, and then there is jet lag. It was a deal-maker, and it was part of the deal. We knew about it.
“In fact, that was one of the deciding factors in him coming to us, whether we would prioritise him and his family above a few games in the PREM. Xavier has signed up for a couple of years, but he’s already stated his intent that he wants to stay here for the rest of his career.
“If you end up starting on the wrong foot with someone’s wife, there’s no chance that’s happening. I guess it’s a preference thing. A lot of South Africans want children born over here, and she was adamant that she wanted her child born in New Zealand. Happy wife, happy life.
“As soon as they sign, they become honorary, adopted northerners. They can only get their northern citizenship rescinded if they lack fight, determination and doggedness; I guess that’s the three strikes,” said Sanderson.
Sanderson said Ben Curry will return to action this week for the first time since last December, along with hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, but a decision will be taken on Tom Roebuck, who has missed the opening two games with a calf injury.
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