Sharks agree Veainu deal

Former Leicester Tigers full-back Telusa Veainu will join Sale ahead of the 23/24 season

The 32-year-old Tonga international has signed a one-year deal

Sale Sharks have signed experienced Tonga international full-back Telusa Veainu on a one-year-deal ahead of the 23/24 Gallagher Premiership season.

The versatile 32-year-old, who represented the All Blacks at U20s level and played domestic rugby in Australia, has experience of the Premiership having spent five stellar seasons at Leicester Tigers.

During his spell at Welford Road he scored 32 tries in 79 appearances before joining French Top 14 side Stade Francais in 2020.

Now he’ll join up with Alex Sanderson’s squad for pre-season ahead of the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership season.

Telusa said: “I’m absolutely buzzing and I can’t wait to come over to Manchester and get started. My wife is English so we have wanted to move back and this is the perfect opportunity.

“Manu Tuilagi is one of my closest friends and every time I speak to him, he talks so passionately about the environment at Sale as well as the players and the coaches too.

“When I watch him play I can tell he loves it there – he’s even doing ice baths! That means a lot to me and it tells me that it’s a really good club full of good people.

“The squad is full of really exciting, young back three players who have been carving it up all season, and I can’t wait to work with them to help their development but also feed off their energy.

“I played with Manu and George Ford at Leicester and I can’t wait to be on the same pitch as them both again.”

Sharks Director of Rugby Alex said: “Telusa was one of the best players in the Premiership while he was at Leicester so we know we’re getting a really good player.

“But more than that, we know we’re getting a brilliant human too, who will make a massive contribution off the pitch and help this young group develop.”

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