Mark Cueto might not fly down the wing in a Sale Sharks shirt next season but Tom Brady insists he is determined to ensure the veteran’s presence is still felt.
This season just gone was Cueto’s 14th and last with the 35-year-old, who is currently the Premiership’s all-time leading try-scorer, finally calling time on his career.
While Cueto’s career is coming to an end, Brady’s is only just taking off at the AJ Bell Stadium and so far he has backed up his five tries in 26 appearances last season with four scores this term.
And while Cueto will undoubtedly be missed next term, Brady believes the knowledge the England winger has passed on will enable him to go from strength to strength.
“Personally for me Mark has been a massive influence in my career, and for all the young players at Sale,” he said.
“He has always been there to give ideas and just watching how he goes about his business in training has had a real impact on me.
“I have learned a lot from him and hopefully I can continue to do so up until the end of the season and then carry that over into the seasons to come.
“He will be a big miss but hopefully I can help fill his shoes even a little bit and continue to develop with this team.”
Brady was speaking as he surprised 12-year-old Sale Sharks fan Ethan Hofton with the news that he had been chosen as an official Rugby World Cup mascot.
Land Rover’s search for mascots forms part of their ‘We Deal In Real’ campaign that aims to put grassroots rugby on the global stage during this year’s Rugby World Cup.
And Brady admitted that days such as the one where he broke the news to Hofton are invaluable for helping to promote rugby at all levels.
“It was good surprising Ethan at his school like that and he was really happy as he is a Sale fan and we were more than happy to come down and see the smile on his face,” he added.
“The World Cup is going to be good for rugby in England right down to grassroots level and for a club like Sale we hope it will boost numbers of those playing the game to help it grow.
“Ethan is going to have a tremendous experience at the World Cup now and I know he is looking forward to it starting like we all are.”
Land Rover is recruiting all 96 Rugby World Cup 2015 official mascots as part of ‘We Deal In Real’, Land Rover’s Rugby World Cup 2015 sponsorship campaign which will champion the people that are the heart and soul of the game by putting grassroots clubs on the global stage. www.landrover.co.uk/mascots @LandRoverRugby #WeDealInReal
Main image courtesy of Sale Sharks via YouTube, with thanks.
