Ben Cohen to consider retirement after Sale Sharks exit

Sale’s World Cup-winning winger Ben Cohen may retire at the end of the season after being told he is surplus to requirements at Edgeley Park.

The 32-year-old joined the Sharks from Brive in 2009 on a two-year contract.

“Sale don’t want me anymore because they’re trying to spend more money in the pack,” said Cohen.

“I’ve got another couple of years left in me so I’ll try to get a club in the Premiership. If not, I’ll retire. So we’ll just have to see what happens.”

Sale executive director of sport Steve Diamond has so far focused on rebuilding the Sharks pack for next season, with Leeds second row Kearnan Myall announced as his latest signing on Wednesday and prop Tony Buckley and hooker Joe Ward already secured.

Cohen, who made his name at Northampton, will follow England centre Mathew Tait out of the club after the former Newcastle man was released from his contract in February ahead of a move to Leicester.

“I’ve played more than 50 games in one-and-a-half seasons at Sale and I play week in, week out,” added Cohen.

“I’m a bit gutted that I’m given the push but that’s life. You just have to take it on the chin.”

Capped 57 times by England between 2000 and 2006, he started six of England’s seven matches in the 2003 triumph and is their joint second highest try-scorer with 31.