NEW SHARK HEADS NORTH
Sale Sharks have agreed a short-term contract with former Gloucester-Hartpury back Lizzie Goulden.
The versatile 33-year-old was considering retirement when she left Kingsholm at the end of last season but she will now link up with Tom Hudson’s team for the JAECOO Next Gen Cup period, which begins when Sharks take on Loughborough Lightning on Saturday.
New Zealand-born Lizzie, who can play fly-half through to full back, joined Gloucester in 2022 and went on to make 47 appearances for the Circus as they won three consecutive PWR titles.
Lizzie said: “I was considering retiring at the end of last season but one conversation with the coaches was all it took to realise what a brilliant opportunity it was to come here. I would have been a fool not to take it.
“I’m so excited about everything. I want to add value in any way I can and experience this Northern grit for myself.”
Lizzie will link up with some familiar faces at Carrington, with Zoe Stratford, Sarah Beckett, Tatyana Heard and Kelsey Jones having made the switch from the south-west to Manchester ahead of the new season.
Lizzie added: “That makes the transition a little bit easier and it will be great to play with some friends and teammates from Gloucester. But equally it’s a chance to make new friends and experience a new environment and culture.
“Luke (Stratford) was so enthusiastic and he gave me a run down on what the club is all about and what everyone wants to achieve. You can feel there is something really special and I really want to be a part of it.”
Lizzie started playing rugby in New Zealand when she was four years old, with her dad being the coach for the first six seasons.
When she was 17, she progressed into club rugby and began playing for Wellington Rugby Club. She competed in the Farah Palmer Cup for seven years, before moving to the UK to join Wasps.
After a three-year stint with Wasps, Lizzie moved to Loughborough Lightning for a season before briefly returning to New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic. She returned to the UK to join Gloucester in 2022.
Now poised to make her debut for the club, Sharks fans can see her and the rest of the squad this weekend, in the opening round of the JAECOO Next Gen Cup versus Loughborough Lightning, with tickets available for Saturday’s 2pm kick off, here.
Ends
Related articles
OFFICIAL SPONSORS
