Castleford initiate legal proceedings after Sale Sharks announce Denny Solomona signing

English rugby league club Castleford Tigers have initiated legal action claiming for damages after Aviva Premiership club Sale Sharks announced the signing of Denny Solomona.

The 23-year-old winger had signed a three year contract with Castleford out of which he is yet to fulfill two more years and he failed to appear in the pre-season training with the Super League club initiating discussions with Sale Sharks.

Castleford has accused Sale Sharks and Solomona's agent Andy Clarke for allegedly breaching the contract and are now seeking for a heavy compensation for the damages.

Castleford chief executive Steve Gill said: "The proceedings have been issued as a last resort, having failed over the last couple of weeks to try and resolve matters without the formality of court proceedings.

"We have confidence that the legal system will bring out all of the facts and the truth. We are fighting this not just for Castleford Tigers but also for the integrity of all sports, including of course rugby union clubs.

"Our belief is that all contracts are sacrosanct in professional & amateur sports."

Castleford have acquired the services of leading London based barrister Nick Randall QC, who have a wide clientele list including that of England football star Wayne Rooney and Leeds-based sports lawyer Richard Cramer to fight the case.

Castleford also has the support of Rugby Football League, whose chairman Nigel Wood had earlier expressed concerns on the issue to Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby.

Wood said: "As we have previously stated, the RFL believes that it is a fundamental point of principle for all sports that both players and clubs adhere to the terms of signed contracts between them.

"It is therefore not surprising that when a club believes the terms of a contract have been broken, they may issue legal proceedings to protect their position."

Sale Sharks boss Steve Diamond said Solomona's name was registered in the European Champions Cup squad after taking necessary permissions and further argued that his club did nothing wrong in securing the deal.

"We've never wanted to go down the route of getting into any legal battles," Diamond said. "We just wanted the deal done and I'm sure the powers that be are getting on with that as we speak.

"I don't think we've done anything wrong at all to be perfectly honest. Players have agents and agents put players up on the market place. There were two other rugby union clubs that I know of who were in the market to sign Denny Solomona.

"We've just got to bite our lip and get on with it and be candid. We've got nothing to hide."

Diamond also revealed that the club approached Solomona after he expressed his interest to switch code and took his claim of his resignation from rugby league.

"I do understand Castleford's perspective," Diamond said. "He's one of their star players.

"What has happened to Cas has happened to me, I had three players leave me in the summer, that's the way it is.

"Denny's attention was brought to me not by an agent but by fellow players, fellow Samoan lads who play here that he is friendly with.

"His desire was to get playing rugby union. He said he wanted to play the game he grew up with. If it wasn't a club in England, he was going to go back to Auckland in the super franchises where he came from.

"In all honesty, the situation has been blown out of proportion. These things happen in sport every week where players move around.

"There are two sides to all stories. I can say from day one that Sale have acted in the best interests of Sale and have done everything legitimately by the book. I think that will come out in the wash."