[Olyy]

https://www.salesharks.com/2024/05/08/l ... ve-sharks/

https://www.salesharks.com/2024/05/08/s ... en-letter/


We know it's been on the cards for a while now, but still hurts all the same

Thank you for everything you've done for the club, Sam - a real legend!

[Bucks1861]

I’d like to echo the thanks and appreciation expressed for all that you’ve contributed.

A superb ambassador, as well as a player.

Good luck whatever you decide to do next.

[Surbiton_Shark]

One of our all time greats

Just superb - wish he wasn't leaving - hope he ends up in a good club as is a regular starter again.

Thank you Sam

[JohnJ of HM]

Known the family a long time so very sad to see him go. His grandfather once told me that Sam wouldn't leave but that was about 10 years ago. I suppose all good things have to come to an end. Good luck Sam. Hope Luke gets back to fitness, he still has a lot to offer.

[RinTin]

Go well Sam. Gave his all to Sale. Hope he gets the chance to fill his boots over the next few seasons and set himself and his family up.

Does us a favour as well and get some coaching qualifications so we can get you on the staff down the road.

[Elgar]

Legend.

Would be a joy to see his skills light up whatever league he is playing in next year.

[LJK]

Such a shame for a truly local guy who clearly has a long love of the club to be moving on, but understandable given his apparent lack of play of late. Good opportunity for him and his young family to try somewhere abroad (if indeed that is what is happening).
Whilst he maybe hasn't got the power of many centres, his skills set and game positioning is still great and his left boot kicking to corner is a great weapon to have.
Wishing him every success

[Streatham Shark]

According to the Astra Zeneca rumour mill he's off to Beneton. Fair play if so, far worse places to live. Hopefully he'll play out his career there, get coaching experience and return when Axe takes over from Borthwick after we win the next world cup, cementing Sales place at Europe's top table.

A great servant to the club.

[LJK]

Given his outstanding performance tonight we should re-sign him asap! Good to see the emotion from him and all the squad at the end. What a shame, but hope he finds a good new home in the game

[dinogyro]

Wouldn't that be something?

He showed he didn't really want to leave, but is there any way to re-jig the squad so he gets playing time?

[Dave L]

Rewatched the TNT coverage of the game in full this morning.

I was quite moved that Sam James was visably tearful at the end. He actually used the phrase “I’m gutted I’m going”. Possibly not his decision?

[Olyy]

Axe said a few times he wanted to keep SJ but it was Sam's decision to leave

[Flumpty]

Rewatched the TNT coverage of the game in full this morning.

I was quite moved that Sam James was visably tearful at the end. He actually used the phrase “I’m gutted I’m going”. Possibly not his decision?

Possibly length of contract to provide longer term scurity for his family ?

[Bucks1861]

Yeah. Maybe or that; and that the other offers available elsewhere was tempting.

I also recall Axel saying he wanted Sam to stay.

[Bucks1861]

Former Sale Sharks ballboy Sam James, who scored a try in his last home appearance for the club on Friday night, is heading to France following his release from the club.

Outside centre James, 29, who has also played inside centre, fly-half and full-back for his boyhood club was in tears after winning the man of the match award against Leicester Tigers.

After playing almost 250 games for the Sharks, he has been speaking to Pau, who are ninth in the Top 14 table. At least one other club is keen to have contract talks with him now that his departure has been announced.

[RinTin]

This all stinks a little. It was supposedly Sam’s decision to leave but he doesn’t seem to have signed for anyone yet?

He looked like he wanted to stay, instead we’ll be replacing a 29 year old 13/15 who consistently performs with a 31 year old injury prone 13/15.

Lots goes on behind the scenes.

[Olyy]

Disagree completely,
Axe couldn't have been more clear that he wanted to retain Sam
It's up to the signing club to announce an incoming player - maybe the new club wants to wait until the end of the season or before their final home game or before a season ticket push or whatever
Axe has mentioned a few times that we've got a new player signed but not announced yet, these things happen - all part of marketing
I wouldn't be surprised if it was announced where he's going on Monday and they wanted him to have his final home game/do his own announcement to the fans before announcing it themselves

[RinTin]

I mean Sam leaving. The guy has a young family and apparently hasn’t even signed for anyone 1 game from the end of the regular season. It’s odd.

[The Back Row]

Sam James doesn't want to leave - the club have not made him an offer sufficient to convince him to stay. They can make all the noises they like about wanting him to stay, but at 29 and in the best place to find a contract to see his peak years out, the club weren't willing to do enough.

I'm gutted about it, but thats negotiations. The bit that sticks in the throat is 'Yeah we want him to stay'... Lack of honesty there, just say we'd like him to stay but he wont accept our offer.

[poyntonshark]

Of course, the only reason anyone would want to move abroad is for money.
In Alex's press meeting, he said the club had made offers but Sam insistent that he wants a 'new adventure' is the way he put it.

Not much dishonest in that at all.

To be honest although Sam would be great to keep around the club, he's no longer a starter for a team with title ambitions.

[RinTin]

He's a good player, but the reality of life in the prem is that you need to be offering more to get the top wage. Unfortunately Sam is 30 in July and isn't first choice anymore. Of course the club want to keep him, he is a great squad man, but there isn't much room in the cap for sentimentality.

I have never heard a club publicly discuss the financial elements when negotiations are ongoing. Nothing untoward there. Maybe Sam is being unreasonable if he is trying to build a nest egg for retirement? We simply don't know enough.

Hope he secures a deal in France. That Leicester performance would certainly help his cause.

[dinogyro]

I really like Sam James, but I do think his performances have tailed off this last season or so. I don't have any data, just gut feeling. If he played like he did last week, every week, he'd be a nailed-on starter, but I don't think the consistent performance has been there.

I like nothing more than a player who commits to a club for a whole playing career, but in this age it's not practically possible. Every player wants to start every game and every player wants maximum pay. Nothing wrong with that, but it does mean you can't stay at one club.

Sam, I wish you all the best and I sincerely hope you find what you are looking for.

[RugbyMarvel]

Looks like Sam in negotiations with Racing 92, hopefully joining them next season.

What a move for him. Going to one of the biggest French clubs and will play alongside like of Farrell and Kolisi. Shows how valuable a playmaking centre who can play full back and fly half is. Apparently replacing Francis Saili who they didn’t offer a new contract to!