FORMER Altrincham Kersal flanker Richard Wilks has been offered a full-time professional contract with Sale Sharks and club sources claim he will waste no time in signing it.

The 22 year-old has long held the ambition to play for the side he supported as a youngster, and now is about to realise his dream.

He started last season with Altrincham Kersal after returning from his studies in the North-east, and was given a trial period with Sale after his parents agreed to support him for a year.

He progressed to the captaincy of the Heywood Road development side, the Sale Jets, and impressed fans and coaching staff alike with assured performances as a replacement for the Sharks.

His most memorable outing for the senior side was against Pau in last season's European Shield when he came on to score two tries.

Richard said, "I worked hard last season. I had my heart set on playing professionally for my home club and was delighted when I was offered a contract for next season.

"Sale gave me the chance to prove myself last season and things have worked out for me. I'm really looking forward to the new season, which I think will be very good one. I have met the new owners and found Brian Kennedy to be very positive."

Richard added a further message of hope for the forthcoming season, "We struggled last season, but I think next season will be different. We finished well and the fans really got behind us, especially at Bedford in our last game. The support that afternoon was tremendous."

Meanwhile, Sale have signed two promising schoolboy full-backs to fill the void left by the departing Joe Shaw.

The first is Stuart Brown, who most will remember for scoring a hat-trick in England's recent schoolboy victory over Wales.

Highly sought after by a number of top clubs, Stuart has opted to take up the offer of a development contract at Sale straight from Stockport Grammar School.

Also in the frame to play second string to veteran full-back Jim Mallinder is Mussolini Schuster, nephew of All Black John Schuster, who has also joined straight from secondary - in this case Rossall School.

Mussolini is a strapping six footer from Western Samoa where his father Pete coached the national team.

It was felt that former reserve full-back Shaw had been given enough time to prove himself and had not realised his full potential. Therefore, the decision was taken to open the door for promising youngsters like Schuster and Brown.

Also joining the Sharks on a development contract is prop Andy Titterrell from Kent.

He was recently a mamber of England's 19 group squad, along with Paul Devlin, that played in the FIRA wolrd cup in Paris.

Andy said, "Last season, I was at Waterloo and featured on the bench a couple of times, but at the time, I was away a great deal on England duty.

"A further aim of mine is to feature in the England under 21 side and training with the full-time professional squad at Sale will help me achieve that ambition."

Also, Matt Moore has put paid to any rumours about a code switch taking him to Warrington Wolves by signing a new contract at Heywood Road.

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