England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie signs with Premiership club

Friday, 04 April 2025 at 11:42

byRugby Rucker

England and British & Irish Lions hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie has penned a fresh two-year deal with Sale Sharks.

Rugby Pass have reported today that the hooker has hunned approaches from both France and the Gallagher Premiership in favour of staying in Manchester.

The 31-year-old, born in Truro, Cornwall, has found his groove again this season, silencing doubters after two injury-riddled years that saw him battle neck, shoulder, and arm setbacks. Now fully fit and firing, Cowan-Dickie is once again being talked about as one of the best in the business.

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From Sandy Park to the AJ Bell

A product of Exeter Chiefs’ golden era, Cowan-Dickie made over 150 appearances for the Devon club, helping them to two Premiership titles and a famous Heineken Champions Cup triumph in 2020. His aggressive ball-carrying, physicality in the loose, and deadly accuracy at the set-piece made him a fan favourite and a nightmare for defenders.

After joining Sale in July 2023, the rugged hooker has quickly made his presence felt, notching six tries in just 13 gamesfor Alex Sanderson’s high-flying outfit.

Borthwick’s go-to guy

His red-hot form saw him re-emerge as Steve Borthwick’s first-choice hooker in the 2024 Six Nations, starting four of England’s five matches and anchoring the front row with a mix of grit and guile.

Despite interest from his old club Exeter Chiefs and French Top 14 giants Lyon, Cowan-Dickie has opted to stay at Sale, doubling down on the project in the North West as the Sharks look to turn promise into silverware.

Bio snapshot: Luke Cowan-Dickie

DOB: 20 June 1993 (age 31)
Birthplace: Truro, Cornwall, England
Position: Hooker
Clubs: Exeter Chiefs (2011–2023), Sale Sharks (2023–present)
England caps: 49
British & Irish Lions caps: 3 (2021 tour to South Africa)
Major honours: 2x Premiership titles, 1x Champions Cup, 2019 World Cup runner-up

Alun Wyn Jones and Owen Farrell included on list of worst British & Irish Lions

The British & Irish Lions is the pinnacle of a player's career – a chance to prove yourself against the very best. But not everyone rises to the occasion.

While some have cemented their legacies in red jerseys, others have left fans wondering how they even made the squad.

From unfortunate injuries to underwhelming performances, we take a look at some of the worst Lions players across different tours, with big names like Owen Farrell and Alun Wyn Jones making the cut.

2021 tour: Owen Farrell – The forgotten playmaker

Owen Farrell, one of the most recognisable and influential players in modern rugby, endured a tour to forget in South Africa. Despite his vast experience and reputation as a leader, Farrell was named by SA Rugby Mag as the worst-performing Lion on the tour.

Initially expected to play a key role, he started three games and featured off the bench in the first two Tests.

However, as the series decider loomed, head coach Warren Gatland made a brutal call – dropping Farrell from the matchday 23 entirely. It was a stark fall from grace for a player who was once considered indispensable.

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2 x Tickets to watch the 2nd Test in Melbourne
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4 x Night’s accommodation in Melbourne with bed & breakfast (24-27 July)
7 x Night’s accommodation in Sydney with bed & breakfast (28 July-3 Aug)
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2017 tour: Stuart Hogg – A case of bad luck

Stuart Hogg was primed to be the Lions' Test full-back in 2017, but fate had other plans. The Scottish star suffered a freak injury in the third game of the tour against the Crusaders, colliding with Conor Murray’s elbow and fracturing his eye socket.

While injuries are unfortunate, Hogg’s Lions career as a whole was disappointing. He failed to make a significant impact on the 2013 or 2021 tours either, making him one of the most underwhelming repeat selections in Lions history.

2013 tour: Tom Court – The holiday call-up

If there was ever a Lions selection that left fans scratching their heads, it was Tom Court in 2013. The Ireland prop wasn’t even in the original squad – he was on holiday with his family when he got the call-up.

Thrown into the squad late, Court was never going to be a game-changer. He did manage to hold his own in the scrum against the Melbourne Rebels, but his inclusion remains one of the strangest in Lions history.

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2009 tour: Alun Wyn Jones – A rare disaster for the legend

Alun Wyn Jones is a Lions legend – but his 2009 tour was anything but legendary. A young second-row at the time, he struggled against the formidable Springbok pack, leading Bleacher Report to rate his performances a dismal 4/10.

Jones was criticised for losing the ball in contact, looking out of his depth, and failing to impose himself physically. At times, he even looked "terrified" according to some reports. It was a rocky start to a Lions career that would later see him become one of the most respected captains in history.

2005 tour: Andy Titterrell – The most questionable selection?

The 2005 Lions tour to New Zealand was an unmitigated disaster, and some of the squad selections did little to help. Among the most baffling was Sale Sharks hooker Andy Titterrell, who had just two England caps to his name.

Sir Clive Woodward’s decision to take a bloated 44-man squad led to several left-field inclusions, but Titterrell stood out as particularly bizarre. Lacking the physicality and technical ability required at this level, he made little impact and was quickly forgotten.