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Rugby

23rd Dec 2025

Top English side are in the market for one of Ireland’s best young talents

SportsJOE

This would be devastating!

RugbyPass are reporting that Sale Sharks are in the market for Ulster scrum-half Nathan Doak.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a superb U20s campaign with Ireland back in 2021 and a great start to his Ulster career, but despite being capped for Ireland A, he has yet to win a senior Ireland cap.

However, this season he has been living up to his early potential and has played a big part in Ulster’s impressive start to the season.

It will still be tough to get capped this Six Nations, with Jamison Gibson-Park, Craig Casey, Caolin Blade and Ben Murphy all vying for a spot at No 9, so the youngster could be tempted with a move abroad.

But Doak’s comments from October should ease any worries of Ulster fans.

After defeating the URC Sharks, he said: “To come away to here, it’s such a special place to play, and to get a win against such a good team, we’ll remember this one for a very long time.

“This is what it’s all about. I love this team, I love playing for this team, it’s my best mates out there and we’d do anything for each other and I think that’s really starting to show.

“We’ll fight for anything, for a point or five points, and I know it means the world for us to win out here, so we’ll enjoy it.”

Sale Sharks are in the market for a scrum-half with Raffi Quirke out of a contract next summer.