Thomas earned a call-up to England U20s earlier this year © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

News: Seymour pens new Sharks deal

News: Sharks seal Vernon signing

News: Lavea latest to join Sharks

News: Saints sign Russian flyer

News: Bath sign Fearns and Beech

News: Sharks snap up Easter

News: Toulon's Chesney to join Sale

Players/Officials: Henry Thomas

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: England

Sale Sharks' long-term plans have received a huge boost with the news that teenager Henry Thomas has signed a two-year extension to his existing contract that will keep him at Edgeley Park until 2014.

Thomas began the season as captain of the second string Jets side but a series of injuries, international absentees and outstanding displays saw him make his senior bow in the Aviva Premiership clash with London Irish in October. He also earned a call-up into the England U20s squad at the turn of the New Year and has since been tipped as a future star.

"Henry is a great prospect who has a great attitude, great work ethic and it's a massive plus for the club with him agreeing to re-sign," said the Sharks' executive director of sport Steve Diamond. "He belies his age and he is exactly the type of player we need, to help us get to where we want to be."

Thomas, who is in the first year of an economics degree course at Manchester University, was also delighted to put pen to paper on a new deal. "I'm very happy to extend the length of my contract, and to be given the opportunity to play for the club for another three years," he said. "I'm really looking forward to pushing forward next year, along with lots of new faces arriving at the club. I've probably already exceeded my personal targets for the season already, and it didn't take me long to sign up for the chance to stay with the Sharks."

Sharks head coach Pete Anglesea believes that if Thomas maintains his stunning progress, there is no limit to what he can go on to achieve in the sport. "Henry has been outstanding for us since the New Year and in terms of how good he can become, it's down to him," said Anglesea who instantly recognised Thomas's shining qualities when selecting him as captain of the Jets side last summer.

"He has got all the right ingredients, he is performing really well week in, week out; he is level headed; he is grounded and he is willing to learn. "We're very blessed to have had both Henry and fellow young prop Lee Imiolek this year. The club could have been in a lot worse condition had we not had them and it says volumes for them that we have almost become reliant on two teenagers!"

The re-signing of Thomas continues a busy period of off-field business for the Sharks following the signing of playmaker Tasesa Lavea from Clermont Auvergne, lock Kris Chesney from Toulon, back-row forward Mark Easter from Northampton, second row forward Kearnan Myall from Leeds, prop Tony Buckley from Munster and Wasps hooker Joe Ward. England international Andrew Sheridan has also committed his future to the club.