Sale admit Peel could be Magners bound

The Welsh international scrum-half left the Scarlets for Sale in 2008 but the English club have stated that they may be powerless to prevent him from returning home when his contract expires in June.

Peel has recently been embroiled in a club-versus-country row after the Guinness Premiership's governing body, the PRL, refused to allow the 28-year-old to appear for Wales against the All Blacks on November 7.

And with Peel himself claiming that he was bitterly disappointed with that decision, Sale boss Kingsley Jones knows he may be powerless to prevent his star No9 rejoining the ranks of the Magners League.

"It is going to be difficult to keep Dwayne here and my concern is that the Wales issue will affect his decision," Jones told the Manchester Evening News.

"I know he likes it down here and if he had played against the All Blacks I don't think any of this would have come up.

"Of course he's frustrated as anyone would be at being denied the chance to play against the All Blacks. I can understand that totally.

"The big thing for Dwayne is to play for Wales and if it is going to impact on his international career, I'm sure he'll give some serious thought as to whether he stays with us."

Jones himself has always been a big fan of Peel and, despite his apparent pessimism, he will be doing all he can to keep the 2005 British & Lion at Edgeley Park for at least another full season.

But, with the possibility of an extended stay in England damaging his international prospects, Magners League fans could soon be watching Peel on a regular basis once more.

"Dwayne is unquestionably a world-class player," added Jones.

"I have a great personal relationship with him and he will stay with Sale Sharks if I have anything to do with it.

"He has an option for a third year here and I desperately want him to take that up but, ultimately, the decision will be his."