Cash rich Sale Sharks to search globe for player - Diamond

AJ MacGinty, the USA Eagles No10, is waiting to discover how seriously he damaged his knee helping defeat Harlequins 30-29 and Sale are set to launch a world wide search for a replacement to get them through the rest of the season.

The short term option for Steve Diamond, the Sale director of rugby, will be Australian international James O’Connor who started at full back against Quins but has considerable experience in the play-maker role. O’Connor’s chequered career has included spells at London Irish and Toulon and now he finds himself with the responsibility of ensuring Sale finish in the top of the Premiership to guarantee European Champions Cup rugby next season.

MacGinty, 27-years-old, has been in excellent form for Sale having struggled with a leg injury last season and Diamond admits his loss is a massive blow but he does have room in the playing budget to bring in a quality No10 and stay within the salary cap.

He said:"We've been building the side around AJ. It took him a year to settle in with us but he's a phenomenal goal-kicker and a great defender and he understands the game really well.

"So it's a bit of a loss for us but we'll be seeing more of James O'Connor at 10 in the next batch of games and I might even go around the world looking for another one.

"We're in a good position in the league and because we don't spend the money that some of these other teams spend, we do have a huge reserve there so we might go to have a look at whether we can get a number ten to see us through to the end of the season to help James and Sam James.”