Versatile forward Tom Ellis has joined Sale Sharks immediately
Tom has signed a deal until the end of 2023/24 Premiership season
Sale Sharks have signed versatile forward Tom Ellis from Bath Rugby on a deal until the end of the 2023/24 Premiership season.
Tom, who has been on loan at Saracens and featured for 80 minutes against Sharks in the Premiership in March, will join Alex Sanderson’s squad immediately as they gear up for the run-in to the end of the season.
The powerful 28-year-old came through the academy at Bath and went on to make more than 100 appearances for his boyhood club, including many alongside new Sharks teammate George Ford.
He joined Saracens in January to cover the players away on Six Nations duty.
Tom said: “I’m really happy to be here. From the outside it’s clear that this is a team and a club that’s on the up and I think the style of play here suits me.
“I played with George Ford at Bath and got to know some of the other lads in England camps and having some familiar faces around will really help me settle in.
“My last game was for Saracens at the AJ Bell and I got a taste of what an amazing atmosphere the fans create in the stadium.
“I also saw first hand how good this team is and I can’t wait to run out with the lads. I think with the quality we’ve got here we can achieve something special.”
Sharks Director of Rugby Alex said: “Tom is a big, skilful back five player with the versatility to switch between the back row and the second row.
“I think he’s possibly been underrated and under-appreciated in his career. The coaches at Saracens would have liked to have kept him because they could see his talent and his enthusiasm and intent to get better.
“This opportunity has come up through Cobus’s injury and sometimes that’s how these things work. It’s opened up the door for Tom to come here, into an environment where we think he can thrive.
“But it’s not a short-term fix for us. He wants to make the north his home now, and we feel like he’s a really viable first choice option in an area where we’re very strong.”
Equally at home in the second-row or back-row, Tom made his debut for Bath against Glasgow Warriors in the Champions Cup in 2014, earning Premiership recognition a month later.
Earlier in 2014, Ellis featured in all five of England Under-20s’ U20 Six Nations games as well as a Junior World Championship win over Italy.
He went on loan to Bristol and Yorkshire Carnegie as he continued to learn his trade before going on to establish himself in the Bath first team.
After playing a key role in the side for many years, Ellis made his 100th Bath Rugby appearance in May 2021.
