Sale Sharks vow to keep Christ Tshiunza despite Welsh regions' interest ahead of 2027 World Cup

Sale Sharks head coach Alex Sanderson has pledged to fight to keep Christ Tshiunza at the club beyond this season, with Welsh regions reportedly tracking the versatile forward as he edges closer to international eligibility under the Welsh Rugby Union’s 25-cap threshold.

Tshiunza, 24, joined Sale on a one-year deal from Exeter Chiefs this summer and can play both lock and openside flanker. He currently sits 10 caps short of the 25 required for Wales head coach Steve Tandy to select him under the controversial residency-and-cap rule. A move to a Welsh region next summer would remove that barrier entirely and potentially place him in contention for Tandy’s 2027 Rugby World Cup squad in Australia.

Sanderson confirmed he has already made early overtures to the player and expects more substantive contract talks once any formal offers from Welsh regions materialise. “I’ve heard rumours around that, and I understand them,” the Sale boss said. “I haven’t really spoken to him yet because it’s still early days and at the moment it’s just rumours. But I don’t want him to go.”

The coach acknowledged the financial reality of competing with Welsh regions for a player whose international ambitions could drive his decision. “Clearly, if he does want to play for Wales long term and he hasn’t got the caps, we have to go substantially higher than what Wales could offer for him to still get called up to the Wales squad,” Sanderson said. “All they have to match is what we’re paying him, but they don’t have much money, so it might not have to be that much more.”

Sanderson was effusive about Tshiunza’s impact since arriving in Salford, pointing to his aerial ability, attacking threat and, most recently, his defensive work. “He’s a mega athlete,” the coach said, adding that Tshiunza would be handed a starting opportunity within the next couple of weeks after a run of appearances off the bench.

The situation presents a genuine dilemma for a player who signed a one-year deal — by Sanderson’s own admission — specifically to preserve his options. With the 2027 World Cup now firmly on the horizon, Tshiunza’s next contract decision carries significant consequences for both his club and international future.