Sale Sharks moved to distance themselves from reports linkng former Ulster players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding to the club on Wednesday.
The Ireland internationals were dismissed from Ulster last month following an internal review by the province and the IRFU and Sale declared today that there is no substance to the rumours linking both players to Sale.
A club statement read:
“Sale Sharks can confirm there is no substance to the rumours currently circulating in relation to the signing of the two international rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding. Our search continues for top class players to bolster the squad for next season.”
However, the Sharks also moved to dispel reports linking South Africa scrum-half Faf de Klerk and former Wallaby James O’Connor with moves to the club last season before signing both players weeks and months later.
Sale Director of Rugby Steve Diamond said that he did not know the source of the links rumouring moves for de Klerk and O’Connor to the club last season.
Diamond said in a statement on the club’s website: “I have not spoken to either player and don’t know where the speculation has come from. We have announced several new signings recently and we are in negotiations with several more players.
“Once they sign a Sharks contract we will make announcements.”
Sale’s statement would ring truer if they hadn’t made the same one about de Klerk and O’Connor last year and denied interest in Folau, despite making an offer.
— Alex Shaw (@alexshawsport) May 2, 2018
Worth noting that this time last year Sale flat out denied they were signing Faf de Klerk and James O'Connor, before signing both. https://t.co/x30DNpAeY3
— Neil Treacy (@neil_treacy) May 2, 2018
