Sharks out-bid Irish to sign Welsh international Andy Powell – Rugby news
Sale Sharks out-bid the London Irish to sign the Welsh international, Andy Powell, on a two-year contract. Powell is all set to move to Edgeley Park for next season as the Wasps had previously released the player.
After a poor Premiership season, Sale Sharks have terminated the contracts of 21 of their 22 players. Sharks have won just six of the 22 games they have played in the 2011 season with 32 points and luckily avoided Aviva Premiership
relegation.
Brecon born Andy Thomas Powell started his professional rugby career in 1999 as he joined the Newport at the age of 18. He has so far represented the Barbarians, British and Irish Lions, Cardiff Blues, Leicester Tigers, London
Wasps, and Wales’s national rugby union teams.
He left Newport in 2003 to sign a one-year contract with the Leicester Tigers. In 2004, he returned to the Wales and joined Llanelli Scarlets. In 2005, Powell joined Cardiff Blues and unlike his previous contracts, he stayed with
the Blues for the long term. His exceptional performance and skills, particularly his ball handling abilities, earned him a place in the Wales national rugby union team.
He made an electrifying debut against the Springboks at Millennium Stadium in 2008 and bagged Man of the Match.
In 2009, he earned a place in the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa. Powell has made 17 international appearances so far and has been a regular member of the Welsh national rugby side.
Andy Powell left Blues in 2009 and he signed a 12-month contract with the London Wasps. He played 14 matches for Wasps in the 2010/11 premiership season.
Welsh international number 8 was in the news the past few weeks for his London pub brawl incident. Wasps suspended Powell in the aftermath of the fight that left Powell unconscious on the floor. The suspension kept him out of action
for Wasps during Aviva’s last round matches.
Sale Sharks Executive Director, Steve Diamond, announced today the signing of the Powell on two-year contract as Sharks beat off the interest of Irish, Crusaders and Wigan. He further added, “This is a huge signing for us. Andy has tremendous experience,
and is one of the final pieces in the jigsaw as far as our recruitment goes for next term." Steve Diamond has also ranked Powell among the best ball carrying forwards in the league.
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