Sale Sharks confirm contract extension of England capped star
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Sale Sharks and England scrum-half Raffi Quirke has reaffirmed his commitment to his boyhood club, signing a new two-year contract that will keep him at the club until at least 2026.
The 23-year-old, described as being 'as North West as Coronation Street,' began his rugby journey at Broughton Park Rugby Club before joining the Sharks Academy.
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Quirke made a major milestone during the 2020/21 season when he became the youngest Sale Sharks scrum-half in Premiership history, making his debut against Harlequins at just 19 years old. His impact was immediate, and his electric performances soon earned him international recognition.
Quirke's impressive form led to a call-up to Eddie Jones' England squad for the 2021 Autumn Internationals, where he made a statement by scoring his first England try in a memorable win against South Africa at Twickenham on November 20, 2021. He was also included in Steve Borthwick's squad for the 2025 Six Nations, further cementing his status as one of England's brightest talents.
Speaking about his new deal, Quirke said: "It's such an exciting time to be a part of this club because I really believe that we've got the team and we're close to winning some big trophies.
"Everyone wants to win trophies but to do it here, at my hometown club, playing with some of my best mates and with my whole family watching every week would be so special.
"Training and playing with some of my best mates is brilliant. I love coming into Carrington every day because it really feels like home.
"I'm fully focused on playing as well as I can for Sale but I want to be involved with England too. With so many of our lads in the current squad, I know this is the best place for me to be."
Sale Sharks Director of Rugby, Alex Sanderson, was full of praise for Quirke and what his re-signing means for the club's future:
"We wanted Raffi to find form so he could come to the table and get what he deserves for the calibre of player that he is. We feel like he has done that in recent games and he's shown what a brilliant player he is.
"He's a gamebreaker, he's homegrown, he's devoutly northern and he's got the ability and potential to be one of the world's best in his position. He's got work to do to get there, but we want to go on that journey with him.
"He's the latest of many of our young, homegrown lads who have committed to the club because they understand our higher purpose, and they know how special it is to play and train with their best mates.
"They want Sale Sharks to become the team and the club we know it can be, and for Raffi, that commitment is as much of a plus point as his talent."
With Quirke committing his future to Sale Sharks, the club continues to strengthen its homegrown core as it aims for silverware in the coming seasons. His re-signing is not only a boost for the squad but also a statement of intent from the Sharks as they push to compete at the highest level.
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