Apollo swims with Sharks

On the move: Perelini switches codes to join Sale

St Helens rugby league forward Apollo Perelini has switched codes to sign with Sale.

The 30-year-old Samoan has agreed a two-year deal with the Sharks, and will join the Premiership club at the end of the Super League season in October.

Perelini played as a back-row forward for the Western Samoa rugby union side at the 1995 Rugby World Cup and played for New Zealand provincial side North Harbour for a number of seasons before joining St Helens.

His switch means he will be ineligible to play for Samoa at the Rugby League World Cup which starts on 28 October.

Perelini said: "It was a difficult decision to leave St Helens because I really enjoy playing rugby league.

First love

"But when I first signed for the club I always had it in the back of my mind to go back to my first love, which is rugby union.

"I didn't know when or where but I was impressed by the enthusiasm of the club's new owners.

"I had offers from more established clubs but I didn't want to relocate and Brian Kennedy has plans, visions and dreams that excited me."

Sale have been linked with Perelini's St Helens team-mate Fereti Tuilagi and Wigan and Great Britain winger Jason Robinson - and Kennedy, the club's new owner, admitted more signings from league could be imminent.

"This is our first major signing and we will look anywhere to fill positions we need to fill," he said.

"I am sure there are a lot of good quality rugby league boys that can do a job for us."

Perelini, who won two Challenge Cup and two Super League championship medals in his six seasons as a prop or second row with St Helens, will play number eight in the 15-a-side code.

Sale director of rugby Adrian Hadley said the his previous experience in union was crucial.

"It was imperative that, as a back-row forward, Apollo has played rugby union before," said Hadley, who has also played both codes.

"We are looking at players in both codes but we are not going to rape rugby league. If we can get them young, from Academies, they will be able to learn the technical part of the game."