Premiership
ACADEMY QUARTET SIGN NEW DEALS
A quartet of Sale Sharks’ most promising young players have committed their futures to the club by signing new long-term contracts.
Props Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Tumy Onasanya, lock Ben Bamber and centre Rekeiti Ma’asi-White have all featured in both the Gallagher Premiership and Investec Champions Cup this season.
All four were involved in Sharks most recent Champions Cup game against La Rochelle, with both Tumy and Ben lasting the full 80 minutes.
Now they have been rewarded for their performances by putting pen to paper on new deals.
Asher’s new contract keeps him at the club until the end of 2026, Ben and Tumy have committed themselves until the end of the 26/27 season, while Rekeiti has signed on until the end of 2028.
Asher, 19, has burst onto the scene this season, earning rave reviews after exciting cameos in big games in both domestic and European competitions.
The former Wasp, who joined Sharks ahead of the 22/23 season, can play on either side of the scrum and was singled out for praise by England prop Joe Marler when Sale took on Harlequins.
Sharks Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson said: “Asher was catapulted into the first team through his performances in training and injury in the squad and he’s done really well.
“He’s a freak, as a tighthead. You just don’t see the kind of core strength that he’s got and when he played against guys like Porter and Marler – British and Irish Lions – they couldn’t dig him out.
“Around the park he’s a power athlete. He dominates collisions and he’s only 19. You picture him in two years’ time, more streetwise and with a few extra kgs. It’s exciting that he’s committed his future to the club.”
Loosehead Tumy came through the Sharks DPP and academy system and represented Lancashire U18s, the North of England U18s and England at both U18 and U20 level.
The 21-year-old made his Sale debut against Wasps in 2022 and his first start against Exeter in the 2022/23 Premiership Rugby Cup.
Alex Sanderson said: “Tumy is a local lad who’s done really well this season. His mentality has completely changed since pre-season. He was in the academy but he’s really stepped up, worked hard on himself and performed really well against Leinster, the Stormers and La Rochelle.
“He’s proved that he can compete in the set-piece at the very highest level but his ability to carry and get around the park is his x-factor. We’re delighted that he sees his future here.”
Lock Ben, 22, grew up in Manchester but after spending his youth playing rugby league for Huddersfield, joined the Bristol Bears academy.
He joined Sharks during the 21/22 season and has gone on to become a key part of Alex Sanderson’s squad.
Alex said: “Ben was working nights in a factory until two years ago and his has been the most meteoric rise out of this group of four. I don’t think he gave himself much of a chance two years ago of making it.
“He’s had to learn the game and I don’t think there’s anyone more thirsty to learn. He’s put on 8kg, but he’s increased his aerobic capacity and knocked loads of time off his bronco. That shows how hard he’s working.
“Nothing has been handed to Ben. He’s had to graft for everything he’s got and now he’s got a real chance of being a very, very special player.”
England U20s centre Rekeiti joined the club, along with Asher, following the demise of former club Wasps. He made his first Premiership start in the recent defeat at home to Bristol Bears.
Ricky, as he’s known at the club, comes from strong rugby stock. His father, Vili, played 36 times for Tonga – including at the 2003 World Cup – while his two brothers have also played professionally: Suva for Coventry and Sonny for Northampton.
Alex said: “What we’re seeing on the pitch on matchday with Ricky is the tip of the iceberg compared to what we’re seeing in training. He cuts an inside line better than anyone in the squad and the more confident he gets, the more we’re going to see from him.
“He has a quiet way about him but he’s really loved in the dressing room. He’s a rare talent and we’re so happy that he’s committed himself to the club for the next four years.
“These young players are an absolute pleasure to coach and it says so much about what we’re trying to build that they see their futures with us.”
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Sale Sharks can confirm that fly-half George Ford suffered a tear to his right quad during the early stages of the Gallagher Premiership round two game at Saracens on Saturday. Following a positive consultation with a specialist it was decided that George does not require surgery and he will now begin his rehab ahead of a busy period for club and country.
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Alex Sanderson has made six changes to his starting XV to face Gloucester Rugby in the first game of the season under the Salford Stadium Friday night lights, while summer signing Le Roux Roets appears in a matchday squad for the first time (Discovery+, 7.45pm KO).
Josh Beaumont, Ernst van Rhyn and Rouban Birch come into the pack following the round two defeat at Saracens, while Sam Bedlow, Will Addison and Arron Reed are picked in the backs to face George Skivington’s men.
In total, 12 of the XV and 19 in the matchday 23 have come through or spent time in the Sharks Academy.
The Sharks front-row remains intact from the trip to the StoneX as England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up once again between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and loosehead Si McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Ben Bamber teams up with Josh Beaumont.
With Ben and Tom Curry as well as JL du Preez all missing as they undergo their return to play protocols following head injuries, Ernst van Rhyn returns alongside fellow flanker Sam Dugdale and Birch at number 8.
Gus Warr starts again at scrum-half but with George Ford injured (quad) he’ll have skipper Rob du Preez for company at half-back. After coming on as a replacement against Saracens, Bedlow starts alongside Addison, who makes his first start since re-joining the club in the summer.
Speedster Arron Reed makes his first appearance of the season alongside Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter.
Hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper cover the front row from the replacements bench with England U20s lock Tom Burrow and summer signing Le Roux Roets covering the rest of the forwards. Nye Thomas, Tom Curtis and Waisea Nayacalevu cover the backs.
Sale Sharks starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Will Addison, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Josh Beaumont 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Rouban Birch.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Tom Burrow, 20. Le Roux Roets, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Waisea Nayacalevu.
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Injuries have forced Alex Sanderson to make three changes to his starting XV to face Saracens at the StoneX on Saturday (3.05pm KO, Saturday 28th September, live on TNT Sports).
Si McIntyre replaces last week’s Player of the Match Bevan Rodd (hamstring), while Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale come in for Ernst van Rhyn and Tom Curry who are both undergoing their return to play protocols after leaving the field during the round one win over Harlequins.
With Sam Bedlow returning to the bench to make a 5-3 split, the matchday squad features 16 players who have come through or been involved with the Sale Sharks Academy.
In the front-row, England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and returning loosehead McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Bamber teams up with Hyron Andrews.
Openside flanker Ben Curry captains the side again and he and Dugdale will pack down either side of Jean-Luc du Preez at number 8.
The backs are unchanged from the narrow win over Quins, with Gus Warr starting again at scrum-half alongside fly-half George Ford, and Rob du Preez and Waisea Nayacalevu outside them in the centres.
Alex has picked a familiar back three once again with Tom O’Flaherty, Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter hoping to provide the spark.
The replacements bench is an exclusively Sharks Academy affair with hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper covering the front row. Josh Beaumont and Rouban Birch make up the rest of the forwards, while Nye Thomas, Bedlow and Will Addison cover the backs.
Sale Sharks Starting lineup:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Waisea Nayacalevu, 12. Rob du Preez, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Sam Dugdale, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Rouban Birch, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Will Addison.
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