SALE Sharks coaches Mike Forshaw and Paul Deacon have signed new four-year deals.

Forshaw joined the club in the summer of 2013 from Connacht, while Deacon moved from Wigan Warriors in July 2015.

Now both have extended their stay with the Sharks.

Director of rugby, Steve Diamond, is delighted and said: “After the recent takeover by Simon Orange and Ged Mason, the most important thing was to secure the current young talent in the squad on three or four-year contacts and to extend the coaching contracts of Mike and Paul.

“Since Mike and Paul joined they have expanded our game significantly, and our stats often have us in the top four of the league, both defensively and offensively.

"Under the new ownership and with selective recruitment, the team will go from strength to strength.”

On signing his new deal, Deacon said: “I’m really pleased to extend my contract at the club.

"I’ve really enjoyed the last 15 months and the club is going in the right direction.

"It is a club I want to be a part of as a northern rugby man.”

Forshaw added: “It is my fourth season at the club and it was an easy decision to make to extend my time here.

"I’ve been pleased with the progression over the last few years and I’m looking forward to keep building and keep developing the young talent we’ve got."