Premiership
Trio to leave Wasps at the end of the season
Wasps can today confirm that Kieran Brookes, Simon McIntyre and Callum Sirker will be leaving the Club at the end of the current season.
Wasps Head Coach Lee Blackett said: “I would like to thank Kieran, Si and Cal for all their efforts during their time at the club.
“Kieran has brought us great experience and power at tighthead over his time at the Club.
“He is probably leaving us a year earlier than expected, but we would like to wish him and his pregnant partner Danielle all the best with their move.
“Si has played 183 games for the Club and been here 10 years. It shows what the Club has meant to him to dedicate that long to one place.
“He will be heavily missed; he is a really popular member of the squad on and off the field. He will be remembered as a quality player, who has been an outstanding servant to Wasps.”
“Callum is a highly talented young player, who unfortunately picked up a serious knee injury a couple of years ago that has limited his game time.
“We wish him all the best for the future and look forward to watching his progress.”
Brookes said: “I have had a wonderful time at Wasps over the past three years. I am sad to be leaving such a great group of players and coaches and I’ll be leaving with some fantastic memories.
“I would like to say a big thank you to all the fans for their support on and off the pitch. I am buzzing to get out there one last time at the weekend and end on a high.”
McIntyre said: “All good things must come to an end. It is crazy to think that I’ve been at this Club for a third of my life. 10 years is a long time at any one place and it’s going to be emotional for me to leave.
“I’m so grateful that I get to play one last time in front of our brilliant fans. Some of the best matches and moments over my time here, have been made special by the fans.
“I’d like to thank all of the fantastic coaches I have worked with. Lee has been great to work with for a number of years. I’d like to give a special mention to Dai Young, for giving me an opportunity to play in the Premiership at a young age and backing me.
“To the players who I’ve been fortunate enough to play with past and present, they are a huge part of why this journey has been so incredible. It has been a privilege to play with them and I leave here with lifelong friends.”
“Wasps has never been a place, it’s about the people and it has been all the people that have made it such a special Club to be at for the last 10 years.”
Sirker said: “I have made so many friends for life amongst the players at Wasps.
“I would like to give a special thanks to Physio Jamie Hamment for his support and expertise during my rehab process to bring me back better than I was before. I wish the Club all the best for the future.”
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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