PETER STRINGER IS keen to play on in professional rugby next season, as he gets set for his final appearance for Sale Sharks tomorrow.
The 39-year-old will leave the Premiership club this summer but remains hopeful of continuing to play in the 2017/18 campaign.
Stringer is a legend of Munster and Irish rugby, having helped the province to their two Heineken Cup successes, as well as earning 98 international caps and playing a part in Ireland’s 2009 Grand Slam success.
The emergence of Conor Murray limited Stringer’s first-team chances with Munster in his later years with the province and, after loan spells with Newcastle and Saracens in 2012, he joined Bath in 2013.
The scrum-half went on to help Mike Ford’s side into the Premiership final in 2015, when he started the defeat to Saracens, before moving to Sale last season and making 24 appearances in all.
Stringer has played 14 times for the Sharks this season and has been named on the bench for tomorrow’s final-round Premiership clash with Bath as he gets set to bid farewell to the club.
However, Stringer has not committed to retiring from rugby just yet. The42 understands that the former Munster man has been actively looking for a new club for next season and is currently considering his options.
Stringer’s sheer level of experience is an obvious attraction for clubs, while his passing quality remains superb.
Despite his age, the scrum-half is in excellent physical condition. Stringer is teetotal and has always impressed team-mates with his appetite for training.
It remains to be seen if the former Presentation Brothers College, Cork student agrees to a new deal – it’s believed nothing official is in place at the moment – but Stringer could clearly add value to many clubs.
His former Munster and Ireland team-mate, Donncha O’Callaghan, has enjoyed a fine season with Worcester and will play on next season at the age of 38.
O’Callaghan is another player famed for his highly-professional approach to training, injury prevention and recovery.
If Stringer does eventually opt to end his professional playing career, he will be content that he has left a fine legacy with Munster, Ireland and further afield, but right now the scrum-half believes he has more left to give.
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Klopp should book him a 12 month cruise. “But boss, I’ll miss every game?” “I know! Here, I packed your bags.”.
@Alan J. McKenna: I’m half with you. I think in an ideal world someone of Henderson’s technical ability would not start for us. However, I think the best place for a team captain is in midfield and as limited as a player he is, he is incredibly hard working, selfless and a very good leader. He won me over in this regard against Roma last year when they got off to a flying start at Anfield. He made a crunching tackle after an Andy Robertson miss pass and turned around and ate the head off him before turning to the rest of the team and barking at them to up their game. We crushed them from that minute on. Milner is a better player but not as vocal. So while I’d like someone better, I think he’s often unfairly dismissed out of hand without consideration for his leadership ability.
To be fair he will need to be fresh if he is going to push to keep his place..only 3 midfield positions up for grabs with alot of competition..fabinho, keita, wijnaldum, milner, chamberlain.
Klopp obviously wants to see his other options , is this the beginning of the end of Henderson
So if they get a great start will he come straight back in to mid field …. I think not ?