Sale Sharks have agreed a deal to sign versatile England forward Sarah Beckett ahead of the 2026/27 PWR season.
The 27‑year‑old, who grew up in Crosby, Merseyside, will join Sharks after four years and three league titles with Gloucester‑Hartpury.
She becomes the third Red Rose to swap Kingsholm for the Morson Stadium, following the announcements that Tatyana Heard and Zoe Stratford will be joining Sale next season.
Sarah made her debut for Firwood Waterloo Ladies at just 18, progressing quickly through the England pathway before earning her first cap in 2018 against the USA.
She went on to feature in every match of the 2019 Six Nations as England secured the Grand Slam and later signed her first full‑time England contract that same year. She’s gone on to win 35 caps and been a part of five Six Nations title-winning squads.
A powerful, hard‑working loose forward, Sarah, who has also played for Harlequins, has built a reputation for strong carrying, defensive reliability and consistent performances across the back row and second row.
Sarah said: “I’m really excited for a new challenge. The idea of moving back home and coming back to the north to play my rugby feels really exciting.
“I’m looking forward to working with new players and new coaches and I think it’s a great time to join this club because it’s in a really good place.
“I moved down to the south eight years ago because I wanted to move into a full-time programme and there wasn’t an option to do that in the north. Since then, a lot has changed and now it’s more about working out where the best fit for me is. I really think that’s at Sale.
“I’ve won a lot at Gloucester over the past few years but with me being out of the England set-up at the moment, I just feel like I need a new challenge in a new environment.”
When Sarah arrives at Carrington, she won’t be the only Beckett at the club’s training ground. Older brother Charlie joined the Sale Sharks Women coaching staff last summer and Sarah says she can’t wait to work with him.
She added: “It’ll be really cool to work with Charlie. He’s a great coach with some brilliant ideas. We’re really aligned on the way we see the game and it would be amazing to win a championship with him.
“Sale have been a really tough side for everyone to face this year and I want to build on that next season. I think we can compete with the very best in the league and I want other teams to know they’ll have to be at their best to beat us.”
Sharks Head Coach Tom Hudson said: “Sarah Beckett is North-West born and bred, a 35 cap Red Rose, and has won four PWR titles with two different clubs.
“Success seems to follow her wherever she goes, so the decision to bring her home was a bit of a no-brainer.
“I am hugely excited to be adding Sarah to our environment and culture and am looking forward to working with her in the pursuit of adding more victories and more success to her already trophy laden career to date.”
The best way to watch Zoe, Tatyana and Sarah in action is with a Sale Sharks Women season ticket. Adult tickets cost just £50 – get yours here and be part of The Northern Force.
