Christ Tshiunza will be on the move this summer switching from Exeter Chiefs to Sale Sharks for the 2026-27 season.
The 24-year-old back five player joined the Chiefs straight out of school and has made more than 50 appearances from them. He also won his 15 Welsh caps to date from Exeter.
He has agreed an initial one-year contract ahead ad is the third Welsh recruit for the Sharks for next season. Joining Wales right head Willgriff John at the club next season will be props Nicky Smith and Tomas Francis, as well as Tshiunza.
“I’ve played against Sale loads of times and as an opposition player you always know that it’s going to be a really tough, physical game that’ll be won by the pack,” said Tshiunza.
“It’s always the most physical game of the season and that always excited me because I love that side of the game. Other teams have a real fear of playing Sale because of that physical challenge and I can’t wait to be on the other side of that.
“When I spoke to Alex Sanderson, he was talking about how he really wanted to compete for the big trophies and that also really excited me. He talked about the plans for the future of the club and it was something that I wanted to be a part of.
“I’m also really looking forward to playing with the other Welsh lads who are joining – Nicky Smith and Tomas Francis – and some of the guys I know from Exeter. I’ve been at Exeter for a long time and I think it’ll be good for me to experience a new environment with new faces and new players to learn from.”
Although born in Kinshasa, Tshiunza moved to Cardiff as a child and learned his rugby at the famous sporting academy at Whitchurch HS. Despite only making his Chiefs debut in September 2021, he received his first call-up to the full Welsh squad for that year’s Autumn Internationals, featuring as a replacement in a win over Fiji while still only 19.
He has since won 15 caps and featured in the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Of late, injuries have severely restricted his international availability, and he last played for Wales in November 2024.
“Christ is really intelligent, powerful, supremely dynamic player, with a back story that tells you a lot about how much his career matters to him,” said Sharks director of rugby, Sanderson.
“When you understand where he’s come from to become an international rugby player, it strengthens the belief that his best days are ahead of him.
“He’s got so much ability and raw power and hopefully together we can put him back in a Wales shirt and help him fulfil his massive potential.”