Sale have signed rugby league centre Iain Thornley from Wigan.

Thornley, who stands at 6ft 4in and weighs over 15 stone, has signed a three-year contract.

The 18-year-old has played for the England Academy and was also being chased by a number of Australian rugby league sides.

He follows in the footsteps of Jason Robinson, who made the cross-code switch from Wigan to the Sharks 10 years ago.

Sale director of rugby Mike Brewer said: "Iain is one of the hottest young properties in both codes of rugby. He'll have to work hard but I've every confidence in him.

There's a lot of rugby league players going across to rugby union teams at some stage but they tend to come back Wigan coach Michael Maguire

"He's a big lad in peak condition who has pace, great handling skills and is very strong defensively."

Wigan coach Michael Maguire told BBC Radio Manchester: "You don't like losing any player and he's a quality young kid that's come through and it's disappointing he's been given a chance with a rugby union team."

The Australian has not given up hope though of seeing Thornley return to the Warriors.

"There's a lot of rugby league players going across to rugby union teams at some stage but they tend to come back, so hopefully we will get him back," he said.

Wigan chairman Ian Lenagan said the loss of Thornley, a graduate of the club's famed academy, was "irritating" given the investment they had made in him.

Sale have also been linked to 20-year-old Wigan winger Stefan Marsh, who is out of contract at the end of this season.

Lenagan insisted earlier this week that Wigan have not turned their back on home-grown products despite the triple signing of Ryan Hoffman, Brett Finch and Jeff Lima from Melbourne Storm.

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