Tom Curry has committed his future to Sale Sharks after signing a two-year contract extension that will keep the England international at the club until the end of the 2027-28 campaign, extending a remarkable association that began when he made his first-team debut as an 18-year-old in October 2016.
The 28-year-old flanker has spent his entire professional career with Sale, becoming one of the most important figures in the club’s squad while also establishing himself as a key player for England and the British and Irish Lions. His new agreement represents another significant chapter in a career that has already included major international honours, serious injury setbacks and an extraordinary return to elite rugby.
For Sale, retaining Tom Curry also means preserving an important part of the group that has developed at the club over the past decade, with director of rugby Alex Sanderson describing the flanker as the “keystone” of the team and revealing that Curry himself was keen to ensure the core of the squad remained together.
Tom Curry commits his future to Sale Sharks
Curry’s new contract will take him through to the end of the 2027-28 season, although Sanderson suggested that both parties deliberately agreed to a two-year extension rather than making a longer-term commitment because of the physical demands of the game and the player’s injury history.
The Sale director of rugby explained that the contract length reflected Curry’s desire to make sure he could remain physically capable of playing regularly, while also leaving the door open for discussions about his future beyond the next two seasons.
“He’s fundamental to us, in terms of being the keystone, really, to that whole group,” Sanderson said, highlighting the importance of Curry not only as a player but also as one of the central figures around whom Sale are building their squad.
Curry himself made clear that his decision was driven by a strong connection with the club, having supported Sale throughout his life and spent the past decade developing from a teenager into an established international.
“Sale Sharks means everything to me and this is the club I have supported my whole life,” Curry said, while adding that he was proud of the progress made during his time at the club but believed there was still much more for the team to achieve.
A remarkable recovery after a serious hip problem
The significance of the new Sale Sharks contract becomes even clearer when viewed against the difficulties Curry has faced with his fitness in recent years.
The England flanker missed most of the 2023-24 season after being diagnosed with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, a condition affecting the shape of the hip joint that caused significant problems and ultimately required surgery in February 2024.
At the time, Curry was warned that his career could potentially be over, making his subsequent return to top-level rugby only four months after undergoing surgery particularly remarkable.
Rather than allowing the injury to bring his career to an early conclusion, Curry continued his rehabilitation and returned to competitive rugby, although further intervention was later required as he sought to manage the condition and extend his playing career.
In December 2024, he underwent a stem-cell procedure with the aim of helping him remain capable of playing at the highest level through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Sanderson believes Curry has continued to exceed expectations during his recovery, with the Sale boss saying that the player is currently showing no obvious signs of the wear and tear that might have been expected following such a significant hip problem.
The new contract therefore represents more than simply a retention decision for Sale, because it also reflects the confidence that Curry can continue contributing at the highest level despite the physical challenges he has already experienced.
Tom Curry remains central to Sale’s plans
Curry’s importance to Sale is also reflected in his longevity, having now entered his 11th season with the club’s first team after making his debut in 2016.
During that period, he has developed alongside his identical twin brother Ben Curry, who also remains part of the Sale squad, while establishing himself as one of the club’s most recognisable players.
His international career has followed a similar trajectory, with Tom Curry earning 71 England caps and making six appearances for the British and Irish Lions, giving him considerable experience at the highest level of the sport.
For Sanderson, keeping such a player is particularly important because Sale are attempting to maintain the core of a squad capable of competing at the top end of the English game.
Curry’s own comments suggest that he shares that ambition, as he pointed to the work that has gone into building the club over the last decade while making clear that he believes there is still more to accomplish.
That shared ambition appears to have played a major role in the decision to extend his stay, with Curry choosing to remain at the club rather than entering the final stages of his career elsewhere.
Sale Sharks contract debate raises bigger England questions
Curry’s new deal has also arrived amid a wider debate about the relationship between Premiership Rugby and England selection, particularly after Sale signing Courtney Lawes returned to England following two seasons with French club Brive.
Lawes has argued that players who move abroad should still be eligible for England selection, while Toulouse back-row Jack Willis has similarly expressed his desire to return to the international setup despite playing in France.
The Rugby Football Union currently restricts England selection for players based outside the country, except in exceptional circumstances, meaning the debate has implications for players who decide to pursue opportunities in the Top 14 or other overseas competitions.
Sanderson strongly opposes changing the policy, arguing that allowing players to leave England for higher salaries while remaining eligible for international selection could weaken the Premiership by making it harder for English clubs to retain their leading players.
The Sale director of rugby believes English clubs would struggle to compete financially with the biggest French sides if players could move abroad without losing their England eligibility, creating a situation in which Premiership clubs could potentially lose some of their most valuable players.
For Curry, however, that particular debate is not immediately relevant because his future remains firmly tied to Sale, and his new contract ensures that one of England’s most experienced back-row forwards will continue playing his club rugby in the Premiership.
Curry’s next challenge
With his future settled, the focus for Curry will now turn towards maintaining his fitness and continuing to perform at the level that has made him such an important figure for both Sale and England.
His return from a potentially career-threatening hip problem has already demonstrated his determination to continue playing, while the two-year extension gives him a clear period in which to contribute to Sale’s ambitions and potentially position himself for the 2027 World Cup.
Sanderson’s comments suggest the club remain encouraged by Curry’s physical condition, while the player’s own desire to stay indicates that he believes Sale still have unfinished business.
After a decade spent rising through the club’s ranks, overcoming serious injury and establishing himself on the international stage, Tom Curry now has the opportunity to add another chapter to his Sale career, with the club hoping that his experience, leadership and performances can help drive the next phase of their development.
