Robinson repays Sale by signing new contract

Jason Robinson has signed a new contract that will see him finish his career with Sale. His England colleague, the back-row forward Chris Jones, has agreed a three-year deal.

Jason Robinson has signed a new contract that will see him finish his career with Sale. His England colleague, the back-row forward Chris Jones, has agreed a three-year deal.

Sale officials have not specified the length of 30-year-old Robinson's new contract, other than to describe it as long-term. Robinson joined Sale from Wigan in 2000, switching codes following an outstanding league career where he scored 184 tries in 302 games and also won Great Britain honours.

But his stint in the union format has proved just as spectacular, with Robinson scoring England's try during the World Cup final victory over Australia last November and starring for the Lions on their 2001 tour Down Under.

"I am absolutely delighted to have signed this deal," Robinson said. "Sale were the club who took a gamble on me four years ago when I left rugby league, and taught me the union game. I feel that by agreeing to end my playing days at Sale, that I will be able to repay their faith in me."

Robinson, who has started at full-back, wing and centre for England during a 33-cap Test career, scoring 19 tries, is with the club on a pre-season trip to France.

Jones was discovered by the club's academy system, and made his first-team debut in 2002. He made a try-scoring England debut against Italy in Rome during last season's Six Nations.He said: "Philippe Saint-André and the coaches have really got the place buzzing, and the lads feel that we can deliver something special over the next few years with this squad."

The Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) has confirmed that Ian McGeechan has been approached by Sir Clive Woodward to come out of coaching retirement and join the Lions in New Zealand. England's World Cup-winning coach has been in contact with SRU officials to grant Scotland's director of rugby a temporary release from his duties. But no decision has yet been taken about letting the former Scotland coach go.

McGeechan stepped out of the limelight last autumn to allow Matt Williams to take his place and is the only British coach to have led the Lions squad on three successive tours. McGeechan turned down the chance to take charge of a trip to Australia three years ago.

Gloucester have completed their squad for the 2004-05 season following the signing of the New Zealand centre Nathan Mauger. The 26-year-old, who joins from the Super 12 side Crusaders, arrives as an overseas player but is working on an application for a French passport through his mother's side of the family.