Samoa international TJ Ioane extends contract with Sale Sharks

Samoa international TJ Ioane has extended his stay with Sale Sharks after signing a new three-year deal with the English Premiership club.

The 27-year-old joined Sale Sharks in 2015 from the Super Rugby team Highlanders and in the previous season he has played 24 Aviva Premiership games in which he scored six tries. He has also represented the Wellington and Otago teams.

Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond was impressed with the skills exhibited by Ioane in the previous season.

"TJ has been a revelation. He is an uncompromising player who gets through a massive workload in every game," said Diamond told his club's official website.

Having represented New Zealand schools side at the international level in 2007, Ioane joined the Samoa national team in 2014 and has played 11 games thus far, scoring a solitary try.