Sale Sharks Director of Rugby Steve Diamond has confirmed that Mark Wilson has returned to Newcastle Falcons following the end of his loan at the AJ Bell Stadium.
The 30-year-old will now return to the North East for the 2020/21 Gallagher Premiership campaign.
The move didn’t really work out with the flanker making just three appearances for the club prior to lockdown due to an injury suffered at the 2019 World Cup.
The England flanker made an initial call-up for his country against the Barbarians, before making a long-awaited test debut in the 2-0 series win over Argentina in 2017.
In 2018, Wilson was selected as part of the summer tour to South Africa where he came off the bench in the second and third Tests, and proved he can hang with the best in the world. He was at it again for England in the November internationals, where staunch performances earned him Man of the Series.
That form continued into the Six Nations where he featured in all of England’s games. He played in three games at the 2019 Rugby World Cup as England reached the final against South Africa.
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LIST | 5 Sale Sharks signings who were meant to be the business…but weren’t
Sale Sharks have occasionally suffered misfortune in the transfer market when it comes to exciting signings that ultimately proved disappointing.
We’ve gone from the inception of the Premiership in 1997/98 because, as you all know, that’s when club rugby ‘started’.
1. Mark Wilson
This loan move seemed to make perfect sense, but due to a number of factors it hasn’t really worked out. Undergoing knee surgery immediately following the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Sharks fans didn’t see him debut until a 30 minute cameo against Saracens in early February. Recalled by Eddie Jones for the Six Nations after making just one start for Sale, his loan expires on June 30. After that date, he is due to return to Newcastle and can no longer play for Sale if the season were to be extended into July.