Sale full-back Joe Carpenter has extended his contract with the Sharks until 2029 with the aim of landing the silverware that has proved so elusive in recent seasons.
The 24-year-old, who made his England debut last July against the USA, had one year remaining on his deal but has signed on for more, confident that last season’s seventh-place Prem finish was a blip.
“I’m absolutely buzzing to be committing my future to this club,” said Carpenter.
“It’s a club and a group that I cherish in so many different ways and one that I truly believe will achieve something special in the near future.
“I’ve enjoyed my years at Sale so much and it’s been brilliant to have been a part of a team that has reached semi-finals and finals.
“But we haven’t quite got the job done and now I’m so pleased to be extended for two more years to help make more special memories and win competitions and trophies for Sale Sharks.”
Leeds-born Carpenter joined Sale from Yorkshire Carnegie’s academy in 2020 and has been a fixture in the side since making a try-scoring league debut in October 2022.
He was sorely missed when he was sidelined for two months last autumn after an ankle operation with Sale losing seven out of their nine matches in his absence.
“Carps is still young but he has become one of the core, senior members of the squad and a lot of how we want to play and the way our game will evolve revolves around his X-factor abilities to beat the first man and dominate in the air,” said Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson.
“He’s been involved with England over the past couple of seasons and he really wants to make the next World Cup squad.
“He knows to do that he has to put in big performances for us.
“He’s always been an energy giver but he’s developing into a real game director as well.”