Marc Jones: Has agreed a new contract with Sale

Sale Sharks will go into Friday night's Aviva Premiership clash against Bath boosted by a double signing.

Highly-rated hooker Marc Jones has agreed a new contract with the Premiership strugglers, while Sale have swooped to sign full-back Tom Arscott from rivals London Welsh.

Sale climbed off the Premiership basement at London Welsh's expense after the Exiles received a five-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player in the league this season.

It dropped the London club two points below Sale, although their appeal against that decision was due to be heard today.

Reflecting on his fresh contract terms, Jones said: "Obviously, it hasn't been the best season for me so far, as it has been plagued by injury and we've been fighting a relegation battle.

"It has not been the easiest of times, but going forward, I do see Sale bouncing back from where we are at the moment.

"I am pleased with the players that we have in the squad and I trust everyone around me, so I was more than happy to commit to the club.

"One of the main reasons I decided to stay was that in the likes of Rob Miller, James Gaskell, Henry Thomas and Tommy Taylor, there are a lot of young players who we can build a team around so that over the next few seasons we can push and build and get ourselves in a better position."

Sale rugby director Steve Diamond added: "Marc is everything that we are about. He's combative, abrasive and he would run through a brick wall for the club.

"Although Marc has been at the club for a few years now, he is still only 25 and his best years are still ahead of him."

Arscott, meanwhile, will head to Sale at the end of this season, having previously played for Worcester, Bristol and Plymouth.

"Tom is an exciting player who can play both full-back and wing," Diamond said.

"He played in both the games against us this season and I was very impressed with him. I am sure he will be a great asset to us."

Sale show a number of changes from the side beaten 32-14 by Harlequins in last Sunday's LV= Cup final at Worcester.

Among those returning to action are internationals Mark Cueto and Dwayne Peel, with Nick Macleod moving from full-back to fly-half instead of Danny Cipriani, who is on the bench.

Bath, four places and 22 points above Sale, are still chasing automatic qualification for next season's Heineken Cup, and they head to Salford City Stadium showing four changes in their pack.

Test props Paul James and David Wilson both return from RBS 6 Nations duty, while hooker Rob Webber also features and lock Stuart Hooper is back in the second-row instead of Dominic Day.