Premiership

INJURY UPDATE | George Ford

Published

1 day ago

October 3, 2024

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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TEAM NEWS | Sale Sharks v Gloucester

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Premiership

TEAM NEWS | Sale Sharks v Gloucester

Published

1 day ago

October 3, 2024

Huge Rugby

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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Premiership

TEAM NEWS | Sale Sharks v Saracens

Published

1 week ago

September 27, 2024

Huge Rugby

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 28^th 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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Premiership

Team News: Chiefs Change Matchday 23 for Trip to Reigning Champions

Published

1 week ago

September 27, 2024

Huge Rugby

Exeter Chiefs head to cinch stadium Franklin’s Gardens this Saturday to take on the reigning Gallagher Premiership champions, Northampton Saints, in Round Two.

After a frustratingly narrow loss in Round One at home, Chiefs have made a handful of changes to the side which came up against Leicester Tigers last weekend.

The front row remains unchanged as Scott Sio once more captains the side with Dan Frost at hooker while Ehren Painter prepares to come up against his former side.

Richard Capstick moves to the back row for this weekend to open up room for Christ Tshiunza to come into the starting pack – the Welshman will pack down with Rusi Tuima in the second row. Ethan Roots and Ross Vintcent then round out the back row at flanker and number eight.

Sam Maunder makes his much-anticipated return to the Gallagher Premiership as he starts at scrum half with Harvey Skinner comfortable in the fly half berth.

While Ben Hammersley recovers in the return to play protocol from his HIA against Tigers, Olly Woodburn brings his experience into the centre partnership with Joe Hawkins.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Josh Hodge are then joined by Paul Brown-Bampoe in the back three – the latter having featured for 75 minutes in his league debut last weekend.

Director of Rugby Rob Baxter spoke ahead of the game about how, despite the result against Leicester, his side have assessed the areas of improvement and are ready to challenge themselves on the road.

“We’re ready to go this weekend. We think we’ve got a formula to be competitive away from home. We weren’t great away at Northampton last season, so we’ve talked about that and talked about changing the process that meant the game got away from us that last time.

“Our focus, for obvious reasons is winning, but you have to give yourself the initial chance to win before you are able to do it. It’s the processes and foundations that, if you get them right, give you a chance.

“Despite the result at Bath, I think Northampton probably feel there’s an energy, a pace and a vibrancy that they can bring to a game at home – like they did last year – which will deal with most of the issues they had against Bath. We’ve got to make sure that’s not the case.

“I think they will want to get the show on the road at home. While it will be a big challenge for us, it is one I’d kind of prefer coming this week. I think to go up there and give ourselves a chance to stick in for 80 minutes will be a good test of us away from home and it’s something that I am personally looking forward to.”

Marcus Street returns to the line-up, named on the bench alongside fellow front-rowers Jack Yeandle and Will Goodrick-Clarke. Jack Dunne is then joined by Martin Moloney to provide cover for the rest of the pack with the former Leinsterman in line for a Premiership debut.

Tom Cairns, Will Haydon-Wood and Will Rigg are named as the backs replacements.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Josh Hodge

14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

13 Olly Woodburn

12 Joe Hawkins

11 Paul Brown-Bampoe

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Sam Maunder

1 Scott Sio (c)

2 Dan Frost

3 Ehren Painter