Premiership
Wasps CEO issues open letter to fans
Open letter starts:
Dear Wasps Supporters,
I hope you, your family and friends are all safe and well.
The last twelve months have been unlike any other we have ever faced. We’ve lived through numerous lockdowns, been forced to isolate from those we love, had our daily lives restricted in ways we never imagined and been unable to attend live sport for well over a year now. Even though matches have been taking place since last August, the impact of not having our fantastic supporters in the stadium has been felt by all of us – players, coaches and staff alike.
Clearly results haven’t been where we’d like them to be recently, with the men’s team unable to replicate the highs of last season. That’s been frustrating for all of us, as has the loss of key players to injury, but it’s part of the game and we’ll learn from the experience and come back stronger. We have a long term plan in place and inevitably there will be some bumps in the road. However, we are all excited at the potential of the squad, the wider coaching and backroom staff and have faith that we are on the right track. Our Academy is in good shape and we were delighted to add another eight under 18 players to our Senior Academy recently.
Despite the frustrations of not being as competitive as we had hoped this season, the ongoing support we have received from our fans has been incredible and is something that each and every one of us at Wasps are genuinely grateful for.
We will focus on finishing this season as strong as we can before starting to look towards the 2021-22 campaign and beyond. There is a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes to ensure we are well positioned to hit the ground running next season. An important part of our strategy will be the opening of our new elite training centre in Henley-in-Arden. The new site is currently under construction, pitches are being laid and, when complete in the summer, it will be one of the finest high-performance facilities in the game.
Away from the training ground, we are also cautiously optimistic about a return to normality at the Arena. We will of course follow the government’s roadmap, but plans are underway to reopen our conferencing, event facilities and hotel in the next week, and then the long-awaited return of you, our fans, soon after.
In line with government guidance regarding outdoor sporting events, we are now preparing for the return of supporters for our final home game of the season again Leicester Tigers on Saturday 12 June. These plans are currently being finalised and full details will be communicated once we have sign off from the various authorities regarding capacities and ticket allocations. We are anticipating being able to share this information shortly. I know the players can’t wait to see you all again and it will be great to finish the season in front of supporters.
We are well aware that we were unable to deliver three games this season, which we included as part of your Season Member Plus ticket, and the Ticket Office team will be in touch during the summer about these fixtures.
For those of you who have enquired, we kindly ask you to remain patient and to keep an eye out later this month for news on the launch of Season Memberships for 2021-22.
I would also like to take this opportunity to make you aware that the Club will be inviting supporters to join us this summer for the first in a series of fan forums. I’m keen to update you on both our on and off field plans, as well as give you the chance to meet myself and key members of the playing department to ask any questions you may have.
Thank you once again for your loyal support and look forward to seeing you soon.
Steve
Stephen Vaughan – Group CEO
Open Letter ends:
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.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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