Scottish International Alasdair Dickinson leaves Gloucester to Join Sharks – Rugby news
Sale Sharks has signed Gloucester Rugby’s prop Alasdair Dickinson as part of their plan to strengthen their squad for next season. Earlier, Sale Sharks had terminated the contract of 21 of their players following their poor
performance in the Aviva Premiership 2010/11 season.
Gloucester Rugby were beaten by the Saracens in the second Aviva Premiership semi-finals while the Sharks finished only three spots away from last place with six wins from 22 matches they played in the season.
Dundee born Dickinson started playing rugby at the Amateur level for Dundee HSFP in 2001. In 2003, he left HSFP to join Heriot’s FP and remained with them until 2005.
In 2005, 27-year-old Dickinson signed a two-year contract with the Edinburgh Rugby where he made 31 appearances in two seasons. By 2007, Dickinson established himself at the domestic and European level as a quality prop. He
became renowned for his explosive ball carrying and tackling skills. The same year he signed with Gloucester Rugby and remained with them for four years until the summer of 2011.
Dickinson has made 62 appearances for the Gloucester Rugby, which includes 49 premiership appearances. Dickinson has scored 15 points and scored all those points with tries. During 2008/09 premiership season, he regularly started
at the starting xv for Gloucester.
Scotland international prop Dickinson will join with fellow compatriots Fraser McKenzie and Richie Vernon at the Sharks next season.
Sale Sharks executive director, Steve Diamond, has termed the Scottish International rugby union team’s prop Dickinson’s addition to the Sharks as an excellent move in the Sharks’ front row.
Diamond also has welcomed his switch from the Gloucester Rugby. He said, “Alasdair is another great signing for us. He has a very high work-rate and is a good scrum-mager and will fit in perfectly with what we are trying to achieve at the club.”
Dickinson was included in the Scotland’s 2007 World Cup squad after an injury to first choice Allan Jacobsen. He played his first match during the 2007 Rugby World Cup against the All Blacks at Murrayfield.
Dickinson later made his six nations debut and played against England and Italy in 2008 Six Nations’ tournament. He so far has played 19 international games for Scotland.
Dickinson is included in the provisional 40-man Scotland Rugby Union team squad that will take part in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, which will kick start in New Zealand in September 2011.
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