Sale secure star names

Philippe Saint-Andre, who guided Sale Sharks to their first Guinness Premiership title earlier this year, has put club before country by signing a three-year extension to his contract.

The 39-year-old former French international centre, who won 69 caps from 1990-97, had been touted as a possible successor to Bernard Laporte who signalled his intention to stand down as national coach after the 2007 World Cup.