The England u18 international, who joined the Exiles at 14 after starting his rugby journey at Guildford Rugby Club, will join up with the Sharks Senior Academy.
Ralph said: “This is a great opportunity for me and I’m confident that with the coaches and players at this club, I can really develop as a person and as a rugby player here.
“I’m really excited about the challenge ahead.”
Standing at 191cm and weighing 108kg, Ralph recently tasted success as part of the Exiles’ under-18 squad that lifted the Premiership Rugby Under-18 Academy League.
He has represented England at age-grade level, taking to the field in the 2023 u18 Six Nations Festival and also in friendly ties against both France and Wales.
Sale Sharks Academy Manager Fergus Mulchrone said: “We identified Ralph earlier in the year playing for Irish U18s in the Academy league final and were impressed with him again playing for England U18s.
“He played back row up until a year ago so he’s a newly converted loosehead prop. That’s testament to what he has achieved in such a short space of time.
“He has a great frame to build upon and enjoys the physical aspects of the game so is certainly in the right place. We’re looking forward to seeing him develop over the next few years and getting some good game time at one of our North West loan clubs.”
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5 experienced players set to be left out of England World Cup squad
As things currently stand, five experienced England stars are set to miss out on Steve Borthwick’s final squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
England’s World Cup squad will be captained by Owen Farrell and vice captains will be Ellis Genge and Courteney Lawes. That makes the trio nailed on for the squad.
A number of major stars, however, are currently set to be axed from the group when Borthwick names his 33-man group.
He has held countless meetings with them, explaining where they are in the pecking order and as the 41 members of his first major squad convene on Sunday, he is sure to do so again.
“I believe players want to know exactly where they stand,” Borthwick says.
“In week one and two, we had players come in and I sat with them straight away and said: ‘This is where you stand and this is what I think you need to do to move forward.’ That’s the first thing I do. Why? As a player, I always remember that I wanted to know what I needed to do.
” I didn’t want ambiguity. My job was to get on with rugby and train, not to be second-guessing anything.”
#1. Mako Vunipola
As a member of an established Tongan rugby dynasty, Mako Vunipola has made his own mark on the game in a Saracens, England and British & Irish Lions shirt.
Brother of England international Billy, he made Test debut against Fiji in November 2012. A year later he made his British & Irish Lions debut against the Barbarians in Hong Kong and featured in all three Tests for the series win over Australia, and did the same four years later in the drawn series with New Zealand.
Born in Wellington, New Zealand, he qualifies for England on residency after their father Fe’ao, a hooker, emigrated to Wales to play for Pontypool in 1998. Mako signed for Saracens in 2011 from Bristol Rugby and also played on loan for Bedford Blues. He has gone onto win four Premiership titles at Saracens and three European Rugby Champions Cups.
He has also won the 2016 Six Nations Grand Slam with England and was part of the squad that reached the 2019 Rugby World Cup final. Steve Borthwick named Mako in his 36-player squad for the 2023 Guinness Six Nations Championship.
