Saint-Andre wants McAlister to stay

Sale Director of Rugby Philippe Saint-Andre is to try and convince Luke McAlister to turn his back on the All Blacks for another year.

Sale Director of Rugby Philippe Saint-Andre is to try and convince Luke McAlister to turn his back on the All Blacks for another year.

McAlister's deal with the Sharks runs out at the end of the season – and the 22-time capped centre was expected to return to New Zealand in a bid to further his international career.

However, All Blacks coach Graham Henry has claimed McAlister might struggle to return to the team if he does return and even questioned whether the 24-year-old had improved since moving to England.

Those comments look to have opened the door for Sale. Saint-Andre is keen for McAlister remain at Edgeley Park for a further season and was planning to speak with him after Sunday's Heineken Cup loss against Munster.

And having seen McAlister top his fine run of form with the man-of-the-match display against Clermont in the Heineken Cup match played the weekend before last, the former French international insists the centre is now a better player.

“Luke has improved as a player since he arrived. He is very happy here,” Saint-Andre told the Daily Express.

“We wanted to keep everything clear for the Munster game but we will speak to him this week about the future.

“It will be good for his international rugby if he stays. He will understand the northern hemisphere mentality better.”