Tom O’Flaherty re-signs with Sale Sharks

Sharks winger Tom O’Flaherty has been rewarded for the most prolific try-scoring season of his Sale career with a new one-year contract.

The 31-year-old has crossed the whitewash 17 times in all competitions this season, with 12 tries coming in his 17 Gallagher PREM appearances.

In total he has made 85 appearances and scored 32 tries for Sale since joining from Exeter Chiefs ahead of the 2022/23 season.

And now he’s signed a new deal to extend his stay in Manchester to a fifth season.

Alex Sanderson said: “Tom has consistently been one of our top performers, both in terms of his work rate and his quality, since he joined the club, but this season he’s gone to another level.

“He scores a lot of tries and does everything you want from a winger, but more importantly I love how he energises the group, often in the really difficult moments. Tom is a really important part of the group – on and off the field – and we’re all really pleased that he’s staying.”

Tom grew up in London and played his rugby for Dulwich College and then Blackheath before moving to Wales to study at Cardiff University. He joined Cardiff RFC in 2013, playing four times and scoring four tries, before moving to Bridgend, ahead of the 2014-15 season.

He spent time in France, combining a university placement with playing in Top 14 side Montpellier’s academy, but returned to Wales for the final year of his studies, taking up joint registration with Bridgend and the Ospreys.

He joined Exeter Chiefs in the summer ahead of the 2017/18 Premiership season and went on to make 91 appearances, scoring 35 tries.