Sale confirm the seven players leaving at the end of the season
Sale have confirmed that the following seven first team players will leave the club following the conclusion of the 2018-19 Gallagher Premiership Rugby season.
Jonny Leota: He arrived from New Zealand in 2011 and has played 129 games for Sale. He was one half of a formidable centre partnership with Sammy Tuitupou: a forceful player with great tackling, carrying and passing skills.
During the past two seasons, he has developed as a blogster, accurately putting the player angle to his readers. He entered the Sharks’ Supporters Club hall of fame in 2019. A holder of 20 Samoan caps, he will continue playing for Sale FC next season while taking up a player liaison role with the Sharks.
Andrei Ostrikov: ‘Drei’ came in 2011 from Aurillac and has been a second row force ever since. Previously with Agen, he is returning to France to play for Grenoble next season. A ‘gentle giant’ who played basketball before discovering he was better at rugby union, he has played for Russia 27 times. Despite bad luck with injuries, Ostrikov has played 146 games for Sale Sharks, scoring seven tries.
Hugely popular with supporters thanks to his pleasant demeanour, off the field, and forceful play on it, Ostrikov received an award at this year’s supporters’ end of season dinner recognising his outstanding contribution to the club.
Alexandru Tarus: The tighthead prop joined the club from Beziers in 2017 and immediately surrounded himself in the Sharks’ ethos, so much so that he received a community award from the cupporters’ club after his first season.
The holder of 33 caps for Romania, Tarus was a popular contributor to social media and developed many friendships throughout Europe. He played 29 times for the Sharks and will be playing for Zebre in the PRO14 next season.
Tom Bristow: He came to Sale last October and has played in 15 matches for the Sharks, coming off the bench on six occasions in the Gallagher Premiership. He came from Narbonne, having played senior rugby for London Welsh, Leicester Tigers and Wasps beforehand.
James Flynn: The Sale-born player has been with the club for seven seasons, amassing 55 appearances after making his debut against London Irish in 2012. Apart from brief loans at Stockport and Sedgley Park, he patiently awaited senior opportunities but was frustrated by injury against Wasps last season. He has been in rehab. most of this campaign and only recently returned to match fitness.
Paolo Odogwu: Signed from Leicester Tigers in 2016, the speedy player impressed by scoring eight tries in three games of sevens rugby. A crowd favourite due to his all-action style moving forward, he scored seven tries in his 29 senior appearances at Sale.
He faced competition from Marland Yarde, Byron McGuigan, Chris Ashton and Arron Reed for the No11 shirt, but had considerable success with Sale FC during their first campaign in League National One.
WATCH: John Barclay chats with RugbyPass about the 2019 World Cup, social media, retirement and a potential move abroad after the finals in Japan
Latest Comments
It is a good argument to keep the Rebels for one more year but also isnt this just opening the door as well for keeping them beyond 2025. If they can create some sort of financial stability in the next year and if their performances lift as they have this season then how would RA even cull them after that? It might be the most cost effective decision at this stage and perhaps many people are guilty of keeping relationships going because of the cost to decouple but then again when does that ever work out well?
Go to commentsDear Ben Smith you are a genius! God please become the next all blacks coach that can take on the mighty BOKS. Your rugby acumen is second to none - imagine your dads sperm bounced as unfortunately as that oval ball did….we would not be blessed with your presence. Just as the all blacks were missing a man you too are missing a chromosome for 80% of your life, so your insights are not only profound but ring true from your own experiences. Just as the TMO interfered with citing an illegal pass I am sure your local authorities interfere with your illegal passes you make on women - How dare they!!! God forbid that rugby be officiated fairly. You are the right man for the job. Next all blacks coach is here ladies and gentlemen Miss Ben Smith (He/She/They/IT)
Go to comments