Most of us were so wrapped up in the World Cup last autumn that the absence of the Anglo-Welsh Cup barely registered. Yet the decision not to play this long-running…
Sale Sharks
Aviva Premiership: Squads announced for first game of the season
Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks (Friday, 8pm, Kingston Park Stadium) Newcastle: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 1 Jon Welsh, 2 Scott…
A week in the life of a Sale Sharks academy player, Part Three
Sevens. The nemesis of a lock. We lanky, gangly and distinctly uncoordinated second-rows are not built for the sport designed to bring more exhaustion than a full 80 minutes, more…
Who will follow Josh Charnley as the next code-hopper?
By Alex Shaw Sale Sharks fans were certainly smiling today, as their club confirmed the signing of Wigan Warriors and England Rugby League winger Josh Charnley. The 24-year-old will make…
A week in the life of a Sale Sharks academy player, Part Two
In this follow-on from Charlie Pozniak’s diary of a typical week as a Manchester Grammar School pupil and a Sale Sharks U18 player, Mark Bennett – head of performance at…
A week in the life of a Sale Sharks academy player, Part One
Sunday Outmuscled, outplayed, outclassed. We’ve just lost to Leicester, and playing against a Tuilagi and an Umaga is little consolation to the grim reality that Academy Finals Day at Allianz…
Josh Beaumont: meet England’s new kid on the block
I first played rugby aged seven at Fylde RFC. The ground was only a two-minute walk away and it’s where all my family have played their rugby as well. Then…
Bet you never saw this: Andrew Sheridan’s career
He’s played for Richmond, Bristol, Sale and Toulon, so you could argue that loosehead prop Andrew Sheridan is a man who continually sought a tougher test; a bigger scrap. Now…
Saints and Sinners: The weekend’s talking points
Saints and Sinners: a round-up of the best and worst of the weekend's rugby action, from the Six Nations and the LV=Cup
Heineken Cup: Winners and Losers
EVERY YEAR, as Christmas drew closer, my school rugby team would embark upon a festive fitness regime. Regardless of how much frost there was, we would work on early morning…