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Page last updated at 14:45 GMT, Thursday, 21 April 2011 15:45 UK

Charlie Hodgson ready for final Sale Sharks home game

Charlie Hodgson
Hodgson recently passed 1,000 points at Edgeley Park for Sale Sharks

Sale fly-half Charlie Hodgson says he is focused on Friday's Premiership game against Exeter despite it being his last home game for the club.

The 30-year-old is leaving the Sharks at the end of the season for Saracens.

"Obviously I've got a job to do first and foremost and think about the aftermath once I've finished the game," he told BBC Radio Manchester.

"I've been fortunate to be at a club that I've enjoyed being at. Even though I'm going, I'll always be a Sale fan."

Yorkshireman Hodgson joined Sale straight from Durham University, and helped the Sharks win the European Challenge Cup in 2005 and then Premiership title a year later, with victory over Leicester Tigers.

On the announcement earlier this year that he would leave Sale chief executive Mick Hogan called Hodgson "one of the greatest players to ever play for Sale Sharks."

The fly-half said he considered staying at Edgeley Park following director of sport Steve Diamond's return to the club, but ultimately he wanted to try something new.

"I think the fact that Steve came in did throw a bit of a spanner in the works but I was thinking long before he came in of trying something else," he added.

"I've been around here for 10 or 11 years and an opportunity has come up for me to do that, and not just from the rugby side of things, but a lifestyle and family one as well."

Halifax-born Hodgson made his England debut in 2001 against Romania, scoring a record-breaking 44 points in a 134-0 victory.

He has been capped 31 times by his country but injury and some below-par displays in England colours meant he missed out more caps and selection for the 2007, although he did feature on the 2005 Lions tour of New Zealand.

Hodgson is the all-time Premiership record goal kicker (612) and points scorer (1,854) but has been part of a Sharks side that has struggled this season and lie in 10th place with two games remaining.



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see also
Sale's Hodgson to join Saracens
10 Jan 11 |  Saracens
Hodgson savours Premiership crown
27 May 06 |  English
Sale 45-20 Leicester
27 May 06 |  English


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