Alex Sanderson
Encyclopedia
Alexander Sanderson is a former English rugby union
footballer who played in the back row for Saracens and Sale Sharks
. He is the brother of Pat Sanderson
who also played rugby for Littleborough RUFC
.
His rugby career blossomed under coach Brian Gornall at Kirkham Grammar School
. His first Sale
coach, John Mitchell, also had a great influence on him as did Steve Diamond and Jim Mallinder, both of whom he played alongside when he broke into the first team.
Sanderson was the youngest player to be appointed as captain of the Sale Sharks
at the age of 20. He scored a try on his England
debut against Romania in November 2001, having captained the England
midweek side in North America soon after being selected for the England XV against the Barbarians at Twickenham
. He made his Six Nations debut as a replacement against Italy
in March 2003 and was part of the wider 43 man squad for the World Cup, playing in the pre World Cup warm up matches against Wales
and France
in Marseille.
He was forced to retire from rugby in 2005 due to a back injury.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer who played in the back row for Saracens and Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
. He is the brother of Pat Sanderson
Pat Sanderson
Patrick Harold Sanderson is a former England international rugby union player and flanker for Worcester, the team he currently captains...
who also played rugby for Littleborough RUFC
Littleborough RUFC
Littleborough RUFC are a rugby union club based in the North West of England on the outskirts of Rochdale.The club has 4 senior teams and a thriving junior section.LRUFC is part of Littleborough Sports club...
.
His rugby career blossomed under coach Brian Gornall at Kirkham Grammar School
Kirkham Grammar School
Kirkham Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Kirkham, Lancashire, England . It was founded in 1549. Its roots can be traced back to the chantry school attached to St Michael's Church in the 13th century. The school remained in the church grounds until it moved to occupy...
. His first Sale
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
coach, John Mitchell, also had a great influence on him as did Steve Diamond and Jim Mallinder, both of whom he played alongside when he broke into the first team.
Sanderson was the youngest player to be appointed as captain of the Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
at the age of 20. He scored a try on his England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
debut against Romania in November 2001, having captained the England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
midweek side in North America soon after being selected for the England XV against the Barbarians at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
. He made his Six Nations debut as a replacement against Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
in March 2003 and was part of the wider 43 man squad for the World Cup, playing in the pre World Cup warm up matches against Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
and France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
in Marseille.
He was forced to retire from rugby in 2005 due to a back injury.