Wales back-row Andy Powell signs for Sale Sharks

Powell left Wasps by mutual consent

Wales back-row Andy Powell has signed for Sale Sharks a week after leaving Wasps for his part in a bar brawl.

Powell, 29, who left the London club shortly after he was suspended over the incident, has signed a two-year deal.

"It has been a tough couple of weeks for me but that has gone now and I am looking forward to a new challenge at Sale," Powell told Telegraph Sport.

"There was a bit of interest from other clubs but I have been really impressed with what I have seen at Sale."

While the Sharks' season is over, Powell will still hope to force his way into Wales' World Cup squad over the summer, although he was left out of the squad to play the Barbarians on 4 June.

The Brecon-born number eight, who joined Wasps after being released by Cardiff Blues in the summer, pleaded guilty to driving a golf buggy while unfit through drink after a Wales international in March 2010. He was banned from driving for 15 months and fined £1,000 as a result.

Capped 17 times by Wales, he made 21 appearances for Wasps this season, scoring one try.

Powell was involved in an altercation with football fans in the Walkabout pub in Shepherd's Bush on 18 April that resulted in him being knocked unconscious and requiring 10 stitches in a head wound.

Sale executive director of sport Steve Diamond said Powell's signing would be a major boost for a side which finished third bottom of the table in the 2010-11 season.

"This is a huge signing for us," he said.

"Andy has tremendous experience, is one of the best ball carrying forwards in world rugby and is one of the final pieces in the jigsaw as far as our recruitment goes for next term."