Ryan Mills has bagged new Premiership deal after Wasps redundancy

Out-of-work midfielder Ryan Mills has secured his short-term future through to the end of the current Gallagher Premiership season after he was one of the 167 players and staff made redundant by Wasps when they financially collapsed on October 17.

There has been strong interest in the talent left high and dry by Wasps and having admitted to meeting with some of Lee Blackett’s former roster a fortnight ago, Sale boss Alex Sanderson has now made his move for Mills to help alleviate a midfield shortage caused by injury and the England call up of Manu Tuilagi.

A statement read: “Sale Sharks have signed experienced centre Ryan Mills on a short-term deal until the end of the current Gallagher Premiership season. The versatile 30-year-old, who can also play at fly-half, joins Alex Sanderson’s squad immediately following his release from Wasps.”

Sanderson said: “Ryan has proven Premiership quality but injuries have held him back in the last couple of years. He offers cover in an area where we are a bit short and we are really looking forward to seeing what he can add to the squad for the rest of the season.

“He has looked sharp in training and he has really impressed us with his leadership skills so far too, so I’m sure he will be a fantastic influence on some of the younger players we have at the club on and off the pitch.”

Mills, who was part of the England U20s squads in 2011 and 2012, debuted for Gloucester in April 2012 and made 26 appearances for the Kingsholm club before switching to Worcester in the summer of 2014. He spent six seasons at Sixways, making 106 appearances and being called up for two England training camps before moving to Wasps for the August 2020 resumption of the suspended 2019/20 Premiership season. He played 16 times for them, including featuring in four of their matches in the 2022/23 season before the club’s RFU suspension.

Elsewhere, Bath have confirmed that Valeriy Morozov has signed for the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign. The loosehead had originally rejoined the club on a short-term injury cover loan following the collapse of Worcester, but he will now remain part of Johann van Graan’s squad until next June. “Valeriy is an excellent scrummager and is a good ball-carrying option,” said the head of rugby van Graan. “Since returning to Bath, he has settled in well and we are pleased to have him with us.”