Sale Sharks have signed Tomas Francis, the 33‑year‑old Welsh tight‑head prop, on a two‑year contract starting next season. Francis, who earned 77 caps and played in three World Cups, left Provence after a stint with Ospreys and the Exeter Chiefs, where he won a league‑Champions Cup double in 2020 today.

Francis cited Alex Sanderson, Sale’s director of rugby, as the catalyst for his move, saying the club’s top‑four status and style of play match his ambitions. He will join fellow Welsh international Nicky Smith, whose 140‑cap experience will bolster Sale’s front‑row depth and mentor younger props in the upcoming season as a key asset for the squad.

With Raffi Quirke departing for Newcastle, Sale’s recruitment of Francis and Smith signals a push to reclaim domestic dominance and provide Wales with seasoned options ahead of the next Six Nations. Analysts expect the pair to elevate the club’s competitiveness and keep the prop line resilient against injury and fatigue.