Mike Phillips will be told to keep his abrasive edge as sharp as ever when he links up with Sale Sharks this summer.

The English Aviva Premiership club – who have qualified for next season’s European Champions Cup – don’t want Phillips to curb his aggressive and combative streak.

The former Wales scrum-half will move from French club Racing Metro this summer to replace Scotland No.9 Chris Cusiter, who has retired.

Fiesty Phillips will arrive with plenty of baggage from various scrapes on and off the field, but Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond said: “Mike is a vibrant character, but I think that is what you need at scrum-half.

“He comes with a bit of a reputation, a bit like Danny Cipriani when he first came to us. But we have done our homework.

“Mike will bring a wealth of experience and a skill set that can take us further. We have James Mitchell waiting in the wing, but we just think that with the European Champions Cup campaign, we need experience.

“Mike will bring us huge big match know-how, just as Peter Stringer did. He’s in for a busy time. We will build again this summer and the Champions Cup will be an added extra to our main priority, which is the Aviva Premiership.”

Phillips, 33, played 94 Tests before retiring from international rugby in 2015 after a fall-out with Wales coach Warren Gatland.

He has spent two seasons in Paris with Racing, following his sacking from Bayonne after being accused of turning up drunk to a team meeting.

But Phillips will not have the opportunity to form a half-back partnership with Cipriani as the England fly-half has rejoined his former club Wasps.

Diamond added: “That’s a shame and it’s always sad when players leave. But we are a club that is 154 years old and Cips has spent four of those years with us.

“We have had a great time with him, with ups and downs, and he has put us on the map in many ways. We’re grateful for that, but now it’s time for a new era.”