Premiership
Owner’s message to Sale Sharks Fans
Statement begins.
Dear Sharks Family,
It’s been a memorable season on the pitch for us all at Sale Sharks as we reached our first Premiership semi-final in 15 years. We came up against a talented Exeter Chiefs side on the day and they came out on top. But we’re all so proud of what the players have achieved and we promise that we’ll do everything in our power to make sure this is just the start.
We also know it’s been a challenging and immensely difficult time off the field as well for so many of you but despite everything that the last 15 months has thrown at you, your support for your club has never wavered.
On behalf of everyone at the club, thank you. We promise that we don’t take that support for granted – in fact, we’ve all felt it every time the players took to the field, even if the stands were empty. We can’t wait until you’re all back where you belong.
On the field it’s been an eventful season. The year started with the appointment of Alex Sanderson as Director of Rugby in January and I’m sure you’d all agree that Alex has surpassed even our wildest expectations. He’s had an incredible impact right across the club and is a huge part of why we’ve reached our first Premiership semi-final in 15 years and why six of your Sharks are heading to South Africa for a British and Irish Lions tour.
We have a couple of new signings on the horizon, a brilliant group of talented, home-grown youngsters like Bevan Rodd, Ewan Ashman, James Harper, Matt Postlethwaite, Raffi Quirke, Kieran Wilkinson, Conor Doherty, Tom Roebuck and Arron Reed coming through, we announced new contracts for Manu Tuilagi and Cam Neild and we’ve built on a fantastic set of coaches and backroom staff with the appointment of our new Peak Performance coach Jamie Langley.
This season we also appointed Sid Sutton as our new CEO and under Sid’s guidance, everyone at Carrington is working so hard to make sure next season builds on this one across all departments.
The future is so bright and we hope you’re as excited as we are about what’s to come because together, we can achieve anything.
We’re sure too, that you’re already itching to get back into the AJ Bell Stadium to support your team. We know the lads can’t wait to run out in front of a full house. We welcomed supporters back into the stadium for two games at the end of the regular season and the team responded with two big wins against really good sides. You’re truly irreplaceable and we know the difference you can make and what a part you can play in pushing this club onto even bigger and better things.
We want, and need, you to join us for what’s going to be an exciting ride.
We want to fill the stadium, to make it a fortress and a difficult place for opposition teams to come and we want you to be a part of that. The atmosphere was incredible with 3,000 fans in for the Bristol and Harlequins games so just imagine what it could be like with 12,000.
Top four is the minimum target for your Sharks now but whatever we hope to achieve, we’ll need your help. So join the Sharks feeding frenzy and help us in our quest to reach the summit of English rugby.
Thanks everyone and see you soon.
Regards
Simon, Michelle and Ged
Statement Ends
Source – Sale Sharks Rugby
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.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks 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.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks 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 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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