Sale Sharks signed Denny Solomona after Castleford fired him - Steve Diamond

Sale Sharks rugby director Steve Diamond insisted that the club approached Denny Solomona after the winger was fired from the English Rugby League club Castleford Tigers.

After Sale Sharks announced the signing of the 23-year-old, Castleford along with the support of Rugby Football League had initiated legal proceedings as they claimed that Solomona failed to report for the pre-season training despite having two years of unfulfilled contract with the club.

"It's in the hands of the legal people, but I don't see any problems at this moment," Diamond told BBC North West Tonight.

"I'm confident that we made a substantial offer and it was knocked back.

"For various reasons Denny became available through being fired from Castleford and once he'd been fired we got in touch and signed a contract."

Solomona, who joined Sale Sharks on a three-year contract made his debut for the AJ Bell Stadium outfit last weekend during the European Rugby Champions Cup clash against Saracens.

Castleford have appointed leading London barrister Nick Randall QC and Leeds-based sports lawyer Richard Cramer to fight their case and are seeking heavy compensation from Sale Sharks and Solomona's agent Andy Clarke for the breach of contract.

Last week, Rugby Football League chief executive Nigel Wood said he has expressed his concerns on the issue to the Rugby Football Union and also the Premiership Rugby Ltd. Wood also confirmed that the board is investigating Clarke on the issue.

"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."