Luke Cowan-Dickie indicators for Sale Sharks to stay eligible for England after Montpellier transfer collapse | Rugby Union Information

England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie had agreed transfer to Montpellier in France’s High 14 after Rugby World Cup, however his switch was cancelled by membership after issues concerning participant’s neck surgical procedure; Former Exeter man has now signed for Sale Sharks; Will stay eligible to play for England

Luke Cowan-Dickie will probably be accessible to play for England after the World Cup, with a transfer to Sale confirmed

Luke Cowan-Dickie will proceed to be eligible for England choice after confirming a transfer from Exeter Chiefs to Sale Sharks within the Premiership, after the collapse of his earlier switch to Montpellier. 

The hooker signed a contract to affix High 14 outfit Montpellier in France after the World Cup, however hasn’t performed since an ankle harm in January. In the long run, his potential Montpellier contract was cancelled by the membership as a consequence of issues concerning Cowan-Dickie’s health after neck surgical procedure.

Such a transfer would have made the 30-year-old ineligible for England choice, with gamers who play membership rugby outdoors of the nation not thought of, however his transfer to Sale Sharks will see him accessible for choice underneath Steve Borthwick.

Cowan-Dickie has already been dominated out of September’s Rugby World Cup in France as a consequence of harm.

Cowan-Dickie has spent his whole profession with house membership Exeter Chiefs, however had agreed to a switch to Montpellier in France

Cowan-Dickie mentioned: “I have been on the identical membership for 13 years and I felt it was time for a change. That is the right transfer for me and I am unable to wait to get began.

“I do know Jonny (Hill) and Tom (O’Flaherty) from Exeter and so they have raved about this membership since they got here up right here. They’ve informed me how good the atmosphere, the lads and the teaching workforce are so it was a simple choice.

“It has been a protracted journey making an attempt to get match and never figuring out the place I might be taking part in however I can already see myself being right here for a very long time.

“This workforce reached the ultimate final yr and chatting with the boys right here, all of them need to go one higher. I need to win and I am assured we are able to have a profitable yr.”

The transfer comes after Sale’s beginning hooker Akker van der Merwe was introduced as departing again to South Africa, and after Argentina’s 38-year-old Agustin Creevy was confirmed as being picked up by Sale because the demise of London Irish.

Cowan-Dickie has been dominated out of the 2023 Rugby World Cup as a consequence of neck and shoulder accidents

Cowan-Dickie has 38 Check caps for England in his profession so far, since making his debut in 2015, in addition to three Assessments for the British and Irish Lions on the tour to South Africa in 2021.

He’s a two-time Premiership title winner with Exeter (2017, 2020), in addition to a European champion as a part of the squad which lifted the Champions Cup behind closed doorways in opposition to Racing 92 in Ashton Gate in 2020.