Bruno has signed a two-year contract with the Sharks and White committed himself to the club until 2009, less than a week after Magnus Lund and Sebastian Chabal agreed new deals.

Director of rugby Philippe St Andre is developing a squad capable of not only challenging for the Premiership title but also major European honours.

The Sharks are favourites to be installed as top seeds for the European Cup quarter-finals and St Andre sees both White and Bruno as crucial to the club's hunt for success.

''These are massive signings for our club,'' he said.

''Jason White is 27 years old, captain of his country and our pack leader. The next three years will see him at his absolute peak as an athlete, and we will see an even better player than we have since he joined the club in 2003.

''Our first-choice back row of White, Chabal and Lund have all committed themselves to Sale Sharks long term and we can now look forward to them growing individually as well as collectively which will be a frightening prospect for opposing teams.''

White is convinced Sale are developing into one of the leading forces in European rugby and said: ''I am very ambitious for myself and for my club and am convinced we have the ability to win things here.''