Sale Sharks have revived their interest in securing an audacious cross-code swoop for Wigan Warriors Rugby League star Josh Charnley.

The Sharks held preliminary talks with Charnley, an M.E.N. Sport columnist , earlier this year before deciding to abandon taking their interest further.

But now Sale have revived their pursuit, prompted in part by the news that current Sharks wingers Tom Brady and Phi McKenzie are both to leave the club at the end of the season.

Brady is moving to Sale’s Premiership rivals Leicester Tigers while Canadian international McKenzie has revealed that he is to embark on a new adventure across the Atlantic having signed a contract with ProRugby USA.

The duo’s departure will leave Sale boss Steve Diamond short on numbers in the wing department, hence the club's decision to reopen negotiations with Charnley – with the club understood to be confident of sealing a deal.

Sale attack coach Paul Deacon knows all about Charnley, having worked with the player during his time coaching Wigan’s backs.

And Sale are no strangers to recruiting from the 13-man code, having brought Jason Robinson into Union from Wigan after a star-studded League career with spectacular results.

Charnley, 24, endured a frustrating campaign with the Warriors last term and was out of the side for large parts of the campaign, but he has come back refreshed since the start of the new Super League campaign and has helped Wigan win all their first five games.

Meanwhile, Sale hooker Tommy Taylor has been recognised for his outstanding form this season by being drafted into newly-crowned Six Nations champions England’s squad ahead of their final match away in France next weekend.

Uncapped Taylor, 24, has been called into the squad by head coach Eddie Jones for Jamie George, who had already been ruled out of the game in Paris with a ruptured tendon in his bicep.

Luke Cowan-Dickie was England’s replacement hooker on Saturday as they defeated Wales at Twickenham 25-21 to seal the Triple Crown.

England head into the game at the weekend looking to secure their first Grand Slam since 2003, after sealing the championship on Sunday, following Scotland’s victory over France.

Taylor, who ironically is moving to Wasps at the end of the season in an effort to boost his England prospects, has already twice tasted representative action for the national side, figuring in games against the Barbarians for the past two seasons.

But this is his first senior call-up and, according to Diamond, it is richly deserved.

“I am delighted for Tommy. The lad has been one of our stand-out players for the last two seasons and is another member of our successful Academy who have graduated to the England squad,” said the Sale director of rugby.

“I know we are losing Tommy at the end of the season, but since his decision to move he has never failed to give 100 per cent and is an influential player both on and off the field.”