Sharks swoop for Easter

Easter: Joining Sale

Sale Sharks have signed Northampton Saints number eight Mark Easter on a two-year deal.

"He is an ambitious young man with a great work ethic and will fit in well when he joins us at the end of the season"
Steve Diamond Quotes of the week

The 28-year-old will join up with his new club next season and will be available for the start of the 2011-12 campaign.

Sale's director of rugby Steve Diamond confirmed the club's delight at signing Easter, brother of England international Nick, telling the club's official website: "This is another good signing for the club.

"I have watched Mark's progress at Northampton and am very impressed with him. He hasn't had the starts he wanted at Franklins Gardens and was looking for a new start.

"He is an ambitious young man with a great work ethic and will fit in well when he joins us at the end of the season."

A versatile forward able to play across the back row, Easter has made 113 appearances for the Saints, scoring fifteen tries.

"I feel that the opportunity and challenge presented by Sale Sharks is the right move for me at this stage of my career," said the Swaziland-born player.

"The squad being built by Steve Diamond shows ambition and a clear direction, which I want to be part of. I also want to thank Northampton Saints and the fans wholeheartedly for the past five years and I wish the club all the best for the future."

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