John Payne signs for Sale Sharks

John Payne is an Australian of Tonga extraction. He played for Tonga in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. The strong centre joins Sale Sharks early in the new year.

Payne was born in Sydney and [plays his club rugby for Manly. He has come up through the ranks of Australian rugby playing for Australia and Under-16, Under-19 and Under-21 levels. He also played for the Waratahs second stringers.

He is a big inside centre - 1,83m tall and 97kg in weight. He played ten times for Tonga, scoring a try against Italy in the 2003 World Cup in Australia.

Sale coach Philippe Saint-André said:"John will have to prove his fitness when he arrives under the watchful eye of Nick Johnston, and I expect him to be challenging for a first team spot in the very near future."