Sebastien Chabal admits personal reasons could force him to quit Sale and return to his native France at the end of the season. The back-row forward has established himself as a cult hero at Edgeley Park since moving to the Sharks from Bourgoin in 2004.

But the 30-year-old, who lost out in the Heineken Cup as Munster regained control of Pool One on Sunday, may take family considerations into account and end his stint at Sale this summer, after speaking at length with Sale director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre about the matter last week.

"As it stands, I am under contract with Sale until 2011, with that last season an option," he told L'Equipe.

"Personally, I want to stay at Sale where I am playing at the heart of a very good team. I feel good there, but there are personal reasons which mean I could return to France."

Chabal rejected a head-spinning offer from big-spending French side Toulon during the summer, as well as others from New Zealand and Japanese clubs.

A move to France is the likeliest option but his agent Miguel Fernandez said: "For the moment, we have had no contact with any French club."