Raffi Quirke commits to Sale Sharks with new contract

Sale Sharks and England scrum-half Raffi Quirke has secured his future with his hometown club by signing a new two-year contract.

The 23-year-old, who has been a key figure for the Sharks since emerging through their academy system, has reaffirmed his commitment to the club he has represented since his junior rugby days.

Born and raised in the North West, Quirke was once described as being “as North West as Coronation Street”.

His rugby career began at Broughton Park Rugby Club before he joined the Sharks Academy, where he quickly established himself as one of the most promising young talents.

His breakthrough came during the 2020/21 Premiership season when he made his debut against Harlequins at just 19, becoming the youngest scrum-half in Sale Sharks’ history.

From that moment, his performances gained widespread attention, earning him a call-up to the England squad for the 2021 Autumn internationals under then-coach Eddie Jones. He made an immediate impact on the international stage, scoring his first England try in the victory over South Africa at Twickenham on November 20, 2021.

Quirke’s continued development has seen him retain his place in Steve Borthwick’s squad for the 2025 Six Nations.

Expressing his delight at extending his stay with Sale Sharks, Quirke shared his aspirations for the club and his personal goals.

“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.”

He also emphasized his passion for training and playing alongside his teammates.

“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.”

Sharks Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson praised Quirke’s recent form and highlighted his potential to become one of the world’s best scrum-halves.

“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.”

Sanderson also underlined Quirke’s impact both on and off the pitch.

“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.”

The Sharks boss also acknowledged the growing trend of homegrown talents choosing to commit their futures to the club.

“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.”