Sale Sharks Women have agreed a deal to sign Welsh international back Courtney Keight ahead of the 2025/26 PWR season.
The versatile 27-year-old who can slot in on the wing, at centre or at full-back, has signed a one-year contract and will join Sharks from Bristol Bears Women.
Despite growing up in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Courtney was a late convert to rugby, picking up a ball for the first time while at Swansea University in 2016.
She progressed to her local team, Swansea Whites, before joining Ospreys and then made the move across the Severn Bridge to join Bristol in 2020. She played more than 60 games for the Bears and was a key part of the team that reached last season’s PWR semi-final.
Born in Oxford, Courtney qualified to play for England, but the lure of the famous red shirt was too strong. After playing for Wales’ Sevens team, she made her full international debut against Ireland in 2019 and has won 22 caps since.
Courtney said: “I have always placed a lot of importance on a good environment and culture because I want to feel like I’m valued and supported and part of a team.
“I’ve always seen Sale as being a place where that’s the case. Players and coaches support each other and have fun, they celebrate everything together and that really drew me to the club.
“On the pitch there’s obviously a lot of investment and that tells me that there’s a lot of ambition to be successful in the future. As a whole it looks like a great place to be and I can see myself thriving. I can’t wait to get started.”
Sharks’ new Head Coach Tom Hudson said: “I’ve spent the past two seasons as a competitor, looking for a weakness in Courtney’s game, so I’m incredibly happy and relieved that that’s everyone else’s problem now.
“Courtney’s superpower is her ability to perform at an international standard in three or more positions along the back line, while still somehow flying under the radar at times in the PWR.
“She has so much potential still and we have every intention of ripping off the mask and turning her into a PWR superstar.”
