Sale Sharks are delighted to announce that academy graduate Sam Dugdale has signed a two-year contract with the club.
Sam started his career in the Sale Sharks Academy at age fourteen, whilst attending Kirkham Grammar School and playing his rugby for local team Preston Grasshoppers. Dugdale signed a full-time contract with Sale Sharks when he left school and went on to make appearances for the Sharks in Premiership Rugby’s A-League, the Premiership Rugby Cup and the European Challenge Cup whilst part of the club’s senior academy set up.
Dugdale was released by the club at the end of the 19/20 season upon completion of his contract after the club was forced to review the financial impact of the COVID 19 pandemic but the lively flanker spent just a few months away from the professional game, re-signing with the Sharks on a short-term contract just four months later, following a string of injuries in the Sale back-row.
The 20-Year-old took his opportunity with both hands and impressed the Sale coaching staff with his ability, desire and determination after re-signing. Dugdale was included in this season’s Heineken Champions Cup squad and following a run of form in both Europe and the Gallagher Premiership, has been rewarded with a contract that will see him remain with the Sharks until 2023.
Sam was pleased to get another opportunity to prove his ability at the Sharks and was excited for what the future holds. Commenting on the news, he said:
“I’m really happy to have extended my contract here at Sale and I’m hugely excited for what the future holds both for me and the club. The brief time away I had from the professional game was a huge learning curve for me and did nothing but increase my desire to improve as a player. Thankfully, I was lucky enough to get a second shot to prove myself with Sale and I am taking the opportunity to learn and develop with both hands.”
