SALE have been cleared of any wrongdoing in their handling of a Covid-19 outbreak at the Premiership club.

The Sharks were forced to forfeit their last match of the 2019-20 season against Worcester in October after a total of 27 players and staff members tested positive for Covid-19, which meant Steve Diamond’s team missed out on the play-offs.

Director of rugby Diamond dismissed claims that his players were partying and socialising throughout Manchester after their Premiership Rugby Cup victory over Harlequins on September 21 and an investigation by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) today exonerated them.