Sale Sharks boss in warning to Steve Borthwick over Tom Curry’s England prospects

David Skippers
Tom Curry Sale Sharks warm-up v Bath Premiership 2024 - Alamy.jpg

Sale Sharks and England back-row Tom Curry.

Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson has expressed his views on star back-row Tom Curry’s comeback at the weekend after last being in action in October 2023.

Curry had not played since England’s bronze medal win over Argentina at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France but made his return in Sale’s 31-23 Premiership semi-final defeat to Bath on Saturday.

A few weeks after returning from the global showpiece, he was immobilised during a Sale training session and underwent major hip surgery which resulted in his lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Shone off the bench for Sale

On Saturday, he came off the bench in early in the second half and put in a huge shift during a 33-minute stint.

Although Sale finished on the losing side, Curry put his body on the line on defence, completing seven tackles of which one was a big hit on Bath replacement loose forward Josh Bayliss in the 58th minute.

And despite his side’s defeat, Sanderson could not hide his delight when asked to give his take on Curry’s return to action.

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“How good, how good,” he said. “Just straight back into it and he probably could have started today but it’s not really fair starting him when he has had seven months out.

“But yeah, it’s a great comeback. I’m really chuffed for him. Tom Ellis was another one and Luke James, that’s three lads who have been injured for quite a long time so I’m happy they got in the field as well.”

With England set to return to action later this month against Japan in Tokyo, and with Tests against the All Blacks taking place in Dunedin and Auckland on July 6 and 13 respectively, Sanderson was asked if Curry is ready to make a return to the international arena and replied: “Yeah!”

Wants England to manage Curry properly

He was also asked if the 25-year-old would be part England’s touring party and said: “It’s not down to me. I want Tom to have a healthy and long international career and everyone is aware of the fact that it’s not the years, it’s the mileage with Tom, that he has only got a certain number of games.

“So how they use his games to the best end is down to them and their management. There is a World Cup in three years. He is moving really well and he is a big leader, and I’m sure they will build the team around him because he is that type of person and a player.”

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