IRELAND AND MUNSTER prop Tony Buckley has signed a three-year deal with Sale Sharks.

The 30-year-old has won 21 caps but inconsistency has seen him struggle to nail down a regular spot in the Ireland team.

Munster confirmed the news this afternoon with chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald said: “We are disappointed that Tony has opted to further his career overseas but he leaves Munster with our best wishes.”

The giant tighthead will arrive at Edgeley Park in the summer and is the first signing by Steve Diamond, the club’s new executive director of sport.

Diamond said: “This is a statement of intent of what Sale want to achieve. We want to build a team around a dominant pack of forwards.”

Buckley said he needed a fresh start: ‘I felt I needed a new challenge. I believe the best club to give me that challenge and also help me become a better player is Sale Sharks. They are hungry and ambitious for success and I want to be a part of that.

“However, at this moment in time, I am a Munster player until the end of June. My priorities for now are to help Munster achieve success in the Amlin Challenge Cup and the Magners League and to regain a place in the Irish squad.”

Buckley, one of the heaviest players in professional rugby, weighing in at 21st 5lbs, has been capped 21 times by Ireland and has just been called into Declan Kidney’s Six Nations squad.

The 30-year-old, who made his Irish debut in 2007, has played for Munster since moving from Connacht in 2005.

There was speculation in this morning’s newspapers that Mike Ross may be set for a move to Thomond Park.

Balls.ie have just reminded us of this from Mushy: