Cueto: A Sale man through and through

The 31-year-old has spent his entire career at the Manchester club but may have departed Edgeley Road had contract negotiations been timed differently.

Sale have spent the last two years fighting for Aviva Premiership survival, but Cueto has been impressed with the changes made by Steve Diamond, the club's new executive director of sport.

"It's been tough and I'm not going to lie about it," said Cueto. "If the timing had been different and I'd been out of contract at the end of last season rather than the year before, I'd definitely have had a stronger look elsewhere.

"But I'm more than happy with the decision I made. We weathered the storm over the last 12 months and I'm a Sale man through and through.

"I love the club, I've been there over 10 years, and I'm settled in the north west.

"It's been a poor couple of years for Sale. We've been in a relegation battle both seasons.

"But the way things are shaping up under Steve Diamond with the squad he's putting together and the changes off the field, it will be like turning up for a new squad.

"Steve and I both have massive loyalty to Sale and we want the club to do well. I'm really excited he's back on board."