Sale Sharks flanker Sam Dugdale has committed his future to his boyhood club by signing a new long-term contract until 2028.
The 26-year-old Lancastrian, who played his junior rugby at Preston Grasshoppers, has made more than 100 appearances in a Sale shirt since his debut against Worcester in 2018.
This season he has been a fixture in Alex Sanderson’s team, showcasing his versatility by starting all five Gallagher Prem games in the number 8 shirt.
Sam said: “I’m really excited to have re-signed. All my family and friends are so close so it wasn’t a hard decision to decide to stay for a few more years.
“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!
“Family and friends come to every game. The club is massive to them and I’m so grateful to them for everything they’ve done for me. I’m so happy that hopefully I can carry on making them proud.
“We want to win trophies and we’re all working hard towards that common goal. Personally, I get to learn from some of the best players in the world in my position and I try and make every day a learning day.
“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.”
Sharks Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson said: “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.
“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.
“I think Sam has been overshadowed by guys like the Curry boys in the past and I’m not sure he’s had the credit he deserves. Now people are getting to see how good he is.”
Shark #305, Sam started his career in the club’s Academy at the age of 14, whilst attending Kirkham Grammar School and playing his rugby for local team, Grasshoppers.
He signed a full-time contract with Sharks when he left school and went on to make appearances for the club in Prem Rugby’s A-League, the Prem Rugby Cup and the European Challenge Cup whilst part of the club’s senior academy set up.
Sam was released by the club at the end of the 19/20 season as the club was forced to review the financial impact of the COVID 19 pandemic.
But he spent just a few months away from the professional game, re-signing with the Sharks on a short-term contract just four months later. He’s gone on to cement himself in the first team squad.
