Buckley to join Sale at end of season

Rugby:Ireland and Munster prop Tony Buckley will join Sale Sharks at the end of the season on a three-year-deal, but first he wants to help the Irish province to success in the Amlin Challenge Cup and Magners League.

Buckley, who wasn’t originally selected for the Ireland Six Nations squad but was later called up as cover, said he is looking forward to a new challenge.

“I felt I needed a new challenge. I believe the best club to give me that challenge and also help me become a better player is Sale Sharks. They are hungry and ambitious for success and I want to be a part of that,” said the 30-year-old, who at over 21 stone is one of the heaviest players in professional rugby.

“However, at this moment in time, I am a Munster player until the end of June. My priorities for now are to help Munster achieve success in the Amlin Challenge Cup and the Magners League and to regain a place in the Irish squad.”

Munster have confirmed the news this afternoon and in a statement, chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald said: "We are disappointed that Tony has opted to further his career overseas but he leaves Munster with our best wishes."

Buckley is Steve Diamond’s first signing for Sale.

“This is a statement of intent of what Sale Sharks want to achieve. We want to build a team around a dominant pack of forwards,” said the Sharks boss. "With Andrew Sheridan having committed himself to the club and now adding Tony, we are shaping up well for next season. I am looking forward to working with Tony and know he is excited to be joining Sale Sharks.”

With the imminent departure of Buckley, Leinster’s Mike Ross has been earmarked for a move back to his native Munster.

Ross began his career at Cork Con then joined English side Harlequins before moving to Leinster in 2009. The prop has impressed enough at provincial level to have won a place in the Ireland Six Nations squad and started both games against Italy and France.

With veteran John Hayes approaching the end of his career and Buckley set to move cross channel, Ross would be a timely capture for Munster.