EX-RUTHIN prop Eifion Roberts is still waiting to make his debut in the Six Nations Championship.
Roberts has once again been overlooked by coach Warren Gatland after Tuesday’s announcement of Wales’ squad for Saturday’s trip to Croke Park to face Triple Crown chasers Ireland.
Martin Williams is the Wales captain in place of the injured Ryan Jones, with the Welsh front row comprising Paul James, Adam Jones and Matthew Rees. Saracens prop Rhys Gill is on the bench
However, Roberts has given the Sale Sharks the perfect morale-booster after a rocky fortnight by signing a new three-year deal with the club.
Roberts, who at 21 stone weighs in as the heaviest prop in the Guinness Premiership and who is affectionately known as the Fridge at Sale’s Carrington training base, had been linked with a move to big-spending French club Toulon and had also been a high-profile target for a number of Magners League clubs.
But the Welsh international has instead followed Sale and Wales team-mate Dwayne Peel’s lead in opting to stay in the North West on a long-term basis rather than seek a move to pastures new.
“It’s great to see that Eifion is committed to the club, even though we have had a bad few weeks in terms of results,” said delighted Sharks director of rugby Kingsley Jones.
“There was a lot of competition for his services both from abroad and the Welsh regions and I know that his decision to stay with us has not been one that has been governed by money.
“He’s shown some loyalty both to me and the club in the fact that we originally gave him an opportunity to make a living in professional rugby and everyone at the club is delighted that he’s going to be staying with us.
“At 29, Eifion’s at a good age for a prop and he gives us the added bonus of being able to play as both a tight-head and loose-head prop. And I also think looking to the future he’s only going to get better and it’s a major boost for us.
“I know that he’s desperate to do well both for himself and for Sale Sharks. It’s really good news and just what we needed at the moment to give everyone a lift.”
For his part, after a few months dogged by speculation over his long-term future, Roberts admitted he was both happy and relieved to have committed himself to three more years at Edgeley Park.
“I’m delighted to have signed the new contract,” he said. “Kingsley helped to give me my chance in professional rugby so hopefully I’ve demonstrated a bit of loyalty in return by signing the new deal.”