Premiership
Wasps Add Rugby League Coach to Their Ranks
Wasps have become the second Premiership team in a week to sign up a rugby league coach
Wasps have confirmed that Martin Gleeson will join the club from rugby league side Salford Red Devils for the 2019/20 season.
Gleeson will join the side as the assistant attack coach, leaving the Red Devils after five years as their assistant coach.
Only last week Harlequins announced that Sean Long will join their backroom staff from rugby league side St Helens, with Gleeson’s move now perhaps showing a shift in the game.
The former rugby league player is delighted to be joining Wasps and is thankful for what Salford have provided him with.
“I’m thrilled to be making the move to Rugby Union and to be joining a team of Wasps’ calibre. I’ve had a fantastic time with Salford, but I feel now is the right time for a new challenge. Premiership Rugby is one of the most competitive leagues in Rugby Union so this is certainly a challenge I’m relishing, and I can’t wait to meet the team,” he said.
The 39-year-old will join-up with Attack and Backs coach Lee Blackett and is also being brought in to help develop the wider team and achieve their goals.
Wasps director of rugby Dai Young noted that he wants to expand his current coaching staff and is happy that Gleeson could become part of it.
“We have operated with a smaller coaching team than most Premiership clubs for a while now. The plan was always to bolster it and I’m pleased to have found Martin, who is an exciting young coach. I believe he can really add to what we are trying to build here at Wasps. Martin has forged a very strong reputation as a quality coach within Rugby League, having made a big impact with Salford,” he said.
As well as Young and Blackett, Wasps have defence coach Ian Costello and forwards coach Andy Titterrell, however Young believes the attacking side of things is more than a one-man job.
“Our current coaches have done an excellent job. I’m really pleased with how they have developed in their first Premiership coaching roles, and with Martin coming on board I am really pleased with how our set-up is looking ahead of the new season. Our attack has been a strong part of our game and we have been one of the top try-scoring teams in the Premiership for a number of seasons. Lee has done a great job for us, but I now feel that attack is more than a one-man job. We took a step back last season from where we would have liked to have been. Between the two of them, I believe they will complement each other and get our attack back to where we want it to be,” he added.
As well as the new coaches Wasps have added a host of players to their squad and are looking like a side to watch out for next season.
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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