Jono Ross signs new contract at Sale with focus firmly on the Sharks
Jono Ross was one of the standout performers in the Premiership in 2017/18
©Steve Haag
Sale Sharks captain Jono Ross signed a new contract this week which will keep him at the AJ Bell Stadium until 2022.
The 28-year-old has been at the club since last summer and a statement on the Sharks website said he is a “catalyst of all good things going on at the club”.
The flanker joined Sale from Top 14 side Stade-Francais and in his first season for the Sharks, he made 31 appearances which led to him receiving the captaincy.
Ross has played 13 times for Steve Diamond’s side this term.
“I am honoured to re-sign with Sale for another three years," he told Salesharks.com. “We have a fantastic group of boys at the club and we are building towards something special here in the North West.
“My wife and I have settled nicely in Manchester and I had no hesitation when Steve asked me to stay at the club. I am really excited to continue my journey here and believe that there are big things to come in the very near future.”
Sharks Director of Rugby Steve Diamond added: “Jono Ross is one of the most professional and dedicated players I have ever had the privilege to coach. His work rate and desire are on a different level and his leadership qualities are exceptional. He is the catalyst of all good things going on at the club, so we are delighted to keep hold of him.”
Earlier this year, Ross was part of Eddie Jones’s plans as England prepared for their summer tour with South Africa.
However, the Sale man wasn’t included during the Autumn for the Red Rose while the likes of Mark Wilson, Zach Mercer and young Ted Hill were all favoured by Jones, but Ross is not ruling anything out regarding his international future.
Speaking to TRU last month, Ross said: “Obviously, I have got international aspirations. I haven’t been picked for whatever reason and that is the way it goes. The important thing is that I continue to play well for Sale and help Sale do well. If I can do that and get a call-up on the back off that, that would be fantastic.
“I was with the wider squad in the summer. If he [Jones] phoned me, it would be a real privilege. There hasn’t been any of those discussions at the moment so I am just focused on what I can do for Sale.”
Ross was part of the Sale side that picked up a crucial 27-10 win over Bristol Bears just before Christmas and it is now one defeat in their last five Gallagher Premiership games for the Sharks after a slow beginning to the season.
As things stand, Sale occupy ninth place in the table and they finish 2018 with an away trip to Kingsholm to face Gloucester on Saturday.
“We probably didn’t envisage a start which we have had, but I think we are improving which is important,” Ross. told TRU.
“I think we have picked up a point in each one of our last few games so that is important. We know we have got to keep improving because the league is ridiculously tight so we just have to focus on ourselves and continue to pick up points along the way.”
