Sale flanker Dugdale signs contract to 2028

Sale Sharks flanker Sam Dugdale has signed a new deal to remain with the Prem side until 2028.

The 26-year-old has made over 100 appearances for Sale since making his debut in 2018.

He had been released by the club in 2020 in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic but returned soon after and has been a regular fixture since, including starting in all five of their Prem matches this term.

"My ambition is to play as well as I can here, win trophies with Sale and one day I'd love to play international rugby," he said.

"We're in a great spot and for us players and coaches it's great to see the ambition everyone has. Lads I've grown up playing with are still here and it's brilliant to see so many of them go on and play for England. It's just me left now."

Dugdale has played in almost every minute of Sale's Prem campaign and made 25 appearances in all competitions in 2024-25.

"Sam has had to overcome a lot of challenges to become the player and the person he is, and to force himself into what is one of the most competitive areas of our team," director of rugby Alex Sanderson added.

"In many ways he epitomises what we're all about. We want to develop our own and support our homegrown players to grow and he has developed into an unbelievably consistent Prem performer who tops our tackle stats."