Sale Sharks
Encyclopedia
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 process of creating a rugby union team to represent the North West region has been in the development of a strong academy. Through their junior team The Jets (presumably named to go alongside The Sharks as a reference to West Side Story
), the club has developed many talented home-grown players, including; Steve Hanley
, Mark Cueto
, Dean Schofield
, Chris Jones
, Andy Titterrell
and Charlie Hodgson
as well as taking on Jason Robinson
when he changed codes after leaving Wigan Rugby League Club
.
in 1905 and would remain there until 2003.
Sale were unbeaten in 26 matches, winning 24 and drawing two in 1911.
Although Pat Davies is counted as Sale's first international, having been picked to play for England in 1927, it was G.A.M. Isherwood
who was Sale's first representative in an international Test match, when he played in all three tests of the 1910 British
tour to South Africa
at scrum-half. The club has consistently provided international players and, during the 1930s, had one of its most dominant periods, fielding players of the calibre of Hal Sever
(England), Claude Davey
and Wilf Wooller (Wales) and Ken Fyfe (Scotland). It came as little surprise when they took out the 1936 Middlesex Sevens.
Sale ruled the roost in county cup rugby for 15 straight seasons as they went unbeaten from 1972 to 1987 in every one of those cup fixtures. During this period, Sale competed for the chance to be English club champions. In their first year, one after the inaugural competition kicked off in 1971, they made the semi-finals only to lose to eventual winners Coventry 35–6.
During the nineties, despite thrilling displays under Paul Turner
, and his successor John Mitchell
, both club and ground struggled to keep a grip on the demanding commercial and financial realities of running a professional rugby club.
Sale took 20,000 fans to Twickenham
for the 1997 Pilkington Cup Final but Leicester won a mistake ridden match 9–3. This interest quickly faded and the anticipated increased crowds never materialised and relegation from the Premier Division
loomed until rugby union-playing local businessman Brian Kennedy came to the rescue late in the 1999–2000 season. Since then, the club has been on a sound financial footing.
Off the field, Peter Deakin
was recruited from Warrington Wolves
rugby league as Chief Executive to employ the skills he had used with the Bradford Bulls
and Saracens and he made an immediate impact in raising the club's profile until hit by the serious illness which claimed his life in February 2003.
Success was not immediate; Sale Sharks finished eleventh and tenth in the 12-strong Premiership
table in the first two years of the new Millennium. It took the coaching partnership of two former Sale players, Jim Mallinder
and Steve Diamond
, to produce a team that were 2002 runners-up and qualified for the Heineken Cup
.
Player signings matched the elevated profile of the club. Scotland
skipper Bryan Redpath
was joined by Stuart Pinkerton, Barry Stewart
, Graeme Bond
, Jason White
and Andrew Sheridan
. The club then turned to the wealth of talent, hitherto largely untapped, in Rugby League. Apollo Perelini
, known as "The Terminator" for his uncomprimising style, joined Sale Sharks the day after helping St. Helens to victory in the Super League
Grand Final at Old Trafford and the media had a field day when Jason Robinson
, possibly the most exciting wing in the world in either code, moved to Sale from Wigan Warriors
.
In 2002 the team also went on to capture the Parker Pen Shield
at Oxford's Kassam Stadium
, defeating Pontypridd
25–22.
, Former Wales prop Ben Evans
and Argentina flanker Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe
it seemed likely. However over the autumn months an injury crisis began with the loss of Scotland capain Jason White
to a knee injury whilst playing against Romania. More bad news followed with England fly half Charlie Hodgson
and England prop Andrew Sheridan
falling to knee and ankle injuries respectively. More and more injuries were picked up over the following months until Sale were left with only 17 of a 38 man squad fit to play in their final Heineken cup match against the Ospreys. (Source: Sale sharks website)
, Andrew Sheridan
, Sebastien Chabal
etc. They still had Charlie Hodgson
who wasn't picked for England
. Sale appointed James Jennings
as the new Chief Executive and Dean Schofield
as the new captain. Sale had signed some good players including Rory Lamont
, Brent Cockbain
, Rudi Keil
, Julien Laharrague
and Scott Lawson
but the biggest signing had to be Luke McAlister
from the Blues in New Zealand. Signing him was said to be one of the biggest signings Sale had ever made. The season was up and down in parts though. The up parts were; seeing Ben Foden
progress at full back to become a superb player, beating Leicester Tigers
home and away was a first plus seeing Richard Wigglesworth
play for England for the first time was a plus. The academy players also became an integral part to the squad (Neil Briggs
, Sean Cox
, Will Cliff
). However, the low points were not qualifying for the semi finals in the Premiership
or win a trophy as they were targets at the beginning of the season. Overall it was a mixed season. (Source: Sale sharks website)
At the end of the season, several players left the club: Ben Foden
, Chris Mayor
and Ignacio Fernández Lobbe
all signed for Northampton Saints
, where they were joined by Christian Day
. Sililo Martens
joined Llanelli Scarlets
while Magnus Lund
, Julien Laharrague
and Ben Evans
joined teams in France.
was announced. On 19 August 2008, Juan Fernández Lobbe
was announced as the captain for the new season, replacing Jason White
who was still recovering from a serious knee injury last season. Sebastien Chabal
and Dean Schofield
were announced as vice-captains.
A new Premiership record of 4 games without leaking a try was set at the start of the season, these games were Newcastle (A), Saracens (H), Bristol (A) and Gloucester (H).
On 4 December 2008 the Board of Sale Sharks announced that Philippe Saint Andre would step down from his position as Director of Rugby at the end of the 2008/2009 season. Kingsley Jones, the current Head Coach was promoted to Director of Rugby at the end of the 2008/9 season, assuming overall responsibility for all rugby operations at the Club. Former Sale winger Jason Robinson
took over as Head Coach from the start of the 2009/2010 season.
Sale Sharks were knocked out of the European Cup in the group stages. Despite Sale earning a bonus point win over Clermont in France in the first round, a defeat at home to Munster, a defeat to Montauban and Munster beating The Sharks in Ireland led to a disappointing exit.
Charlie Hodgson was voted the player of the year at the club's end-of-season awards on Thursday 30 April 2009.
assisted by Phil Keith-Roach
(forwards coach) and Byron Hayward (Kicking Coach).
It was announced on 18 March 2009 that Sale Sharks had signed Ben Cohen. The former England Winger signs from French outfit Brive.
Dean Schofield has once more received the captaincy, this time for season 2009–2010 season.
It was announced in February 2010 that Sale had signed Welsh international Dafydd James until the end of the season to provide cover for all the injured players.
Sale had a disappointing season, finishing 11th in the Premiership
and only securing safety from relegation on the penultimate weekend of the season.
Sale's Heineken cup
campaign also ended in disappointment, although they did challenge the group favourites Toulouse
and the Cardiff Blues
. The highlights of the campaign were a stunning 27–26, win at home to Cardiff
and wins home and away against Harlequins.
Towards the end of the season, there were changes made in the coaching staff with Jason Robinson and Phil Keith-Roach leaving the club and Mike Brewer coming in to be Head Coach with Kingsley Jones still being Director of Rugby.
Hendre Fourie
Andrew Sheridan
Wame Lewaravu
Tony Buckley
Sam Tuitupou
Vadim Cobîlaş
Andrei Ostrikov Tasesa Lavea
Johnny Leota
Alasdair Dickinson
Richie Vernon
Dwayne Peel
Andy Powell
(from
Los Tilos
) Charlie Amesbury
(from
Newcastle Falcons
) Luther Burrell
(from Leeds Carnegie) Mark Easter
(from Northampton Saints
) Hendre Fourie
(from Leeds Carnegie) Andrew Higgins (from Exeter Chiefs
) Kearnan Myall
(from Leeds Carnegie) Joe Ward (from London Wasps
) Tony Buckley
(from Munster
) Sam Tuitupou
(from Munster
) Andrei Ostrikov (from
Stade Aurillac
) Tasesa Lavea
(from Clermont
) Johnny Leota
(from
Manawatu
) Alasdair Dickinson
(from Gloucester) Fraser McKenzie (from 
Edinburgh) Richie Vernon
(from Glasgow Warriors
) Scott Mathie
(from Leeds Carnegie) Andy Powell (from London Wasps
)
London Wasps
) Chris Brightwell
(to England Sevens
) Ben Cohen - Retiring Sean Cox (to Edinburgh
) Rhys Crane
Carl Fearns
(to Bath
) Jack Forster
Chris Jones (to Worcester Warriors) Charlie Hodgson
(to Saracens
) Selorm Kuadey
Chris Leck
(to Edinburgh
) Simon McIntyre (to London Wasps
) Fergus Mulchrone Nic Rouse
(to Nottingham
) Mathew Tait
(to Leicester Tigers
) Asaeli Boko
(to
Nadroga) Sisa Koyamaibole
(to Lyon
) Neil McMillan
Matty James (to Bristol Rugby
) Kristian Ormsby
Karena Wihongi
(to Castres
) Anitelea Tuilagi Paul Williams (to Stade Français) Jonny Kennedy
- Retiring Eifion Lewis-Roberts (to Toulon
)
a keen supporter of the club and managing director of UKFast announced a sponsorship deal in March 2009 which saw the end to the previous sponsor McAfee's 4 years with the club.
Headline Shirt Sponsor UKFast
:
Full list of all sponsors of Sale Sharks:
Other sponsors include: Printerland, Cotton Traders, JobWorthDoing, Greene King IPA
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...
club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.
The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road
Heywood Road
Heywood Road is a rugby union stadium in Sale, Greater Manchester. It has been the home ground of Sale F.C. since 1905. It was the home ground of spin-off professional club Sale Sharks until 2003, when the club moved it's matches to Edgeley Park, Stockport. It's capacity was 5,400 in 2003. Sale...
in Sale, Greater Manchester
Sale, Greater Manchester
Sale is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Cheshire, the town lies on flat ground on the south bank of the River Mersey, south of Stretford, northeast of Altrincham, and southwest of the city of Manchester...
, but Sharks currently play in Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
at Edgeley Park
Edgeley Park
Edgeley Park is an association football and rugby union stadium in Stockport, England. The stadium was initially built for the rugby league club Stockport in 1901, but by 1902, the rugby club was defunct and in the same year, Stockport County Football Club, who were looking for a bigger ground,...
, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
Part of the process of creating a rugby union team to represent the North West region has been in the development of a strong academy. Through their junior team The Jets (presumably named to go alongside The Sharks as a reference to West Side Story
West Side Story
West Side Story is an American musical with a script by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins...
), the club has developed many talented home-grown players, including; Steve Hanley
Steve Hanley (rugby player)
Steven Melvyn Hanley is a former rugby union footballer who played on the wing for the Sale Sharks, signing with the club in 1998. He played one Test for England and scored a try in his debut against Wales. He was Sale's "Player of the Year" in 2004...
, Mark Cueto
Mark Cueto
Mark John "Frank" Cueto is an English international rugby union player. He plays on the wing for Sale Sharks and England.-Biography:...
, Dean Schofield
Dean Schofield
Dean Schofield is a professional Rugby union player who plays for RC Toulon. He plays lock and is a product of Aldwinians RUFC. He first came to prominence when scoring twice as Aldwinians beat Dudley Kingswinsford in the NPI Cup Final at Twickenham...
, Chris Jones
Chris Jones (rugby player)
Christopher Michael Jones is an English rugby union footballer. He plays as a lock or flanker for The Worcester Warriors in the Aviva Premiership....
, Andy Titterrell
Andy Titterrell
Andrew James Titterrell is a rugby union player who plays at hooker for Leeds Carnegie and England.-Biography:...
and Charlie Hodgson
Charlie Hodgson
Charles Christopher Hodgson is an English rugby union footballer. He plays fly-half for Saracens and England. He is also the leading Premiership points scorer of all time.-Early years:...
as well as taking on Jason Robinson
Jason Robinson
Jason Thorpe Robinson OBE is an English former international rugby union and rugby league player of the 1990s and 2000s. Playing at wing or fullback, he won fifty-one rugby union international test caps in total for England, and in rugby league he won twelve caps for Great Britain and seven for...
when he changed codes after leaving Wigan Rugby League Club
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
.
History
The club was founded in 1861 and is one of the oldest clubs in English rugby. Throughout their history they have been one of the leading rugby union clubs in the North of England. Sale moved into Heywood RoadHeywood Road
Heywood Road is a rugby union stadium in Sale, Greater Manchester. It has been the home ground of Sale F.C. since 1905. It was the home ground of spin-off professional club Sale Sharks until 2003, when the club moved it's matches to Edgeley Park, Stockport. It's capacity was 5,400 in 2003. Sale...
in 1905 and would remain there until 2003.
Sale were unbeaten in 26 matches, winning 24 and drawing two in 1911.
Although Pat Davies is counted as Sale's first international, having been picked to play for England in 1927, it was G.A.M. Isherwood
G.A.M. Isherwood
George Aldwyn Methuen Isherwood was a rugby union international who was part of the first official British and Irish Lions team that toured South Africa in 1910.-Early life:...
who was Sale's first representative in an international Test match, when he played in all three tests of the 1910 British
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
tour to South Africa
1910 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1910 British Isles tour to South Africa was the eighth tour by a British Isles team and the fourth to South Africa. It is retrospectively classed as one of the British Lions tours, as the Lions naming convention was not adopted until 1950. As well as South Africa, the tour included a game in...
at scrum-half. The club has consistently provided international players and, during the 1930s, had one of its most dominant periods, fielding players of the calibre of Hal Sever
Hal Sever
Hal Sever was an English rugby international playing ten matches. He was educated at Shrewsbury School, which is normally regarded as a footballing school. He made his debut in 1936 as a member of the first English team to defeat the All Blacks and played an integral role in the English team in...
(England), Claude Davey
Claude Davey
Claude Davey was a Wales international rugby union player who played club rugby for several teams, most notably Sale and Swansea. He was awarded 23 caps for Wales and captained his country eight times...
and Wilf Wooller (Wales) and Ken Fyfe (Scotland). It came as little surprise when they took out the 1936 Middlesex Sevens.
Sale ruled the roost in county cup rugby for 15 straight seasons as they went unbeaten from 1972 to 1987 in every one of those cup fixtures. During this period, Sale competed for the chance to be English club champions. In their first year, one after the inaugural competition kicked off in 1971, they made the semi-finals only to lose to eventual winners Coventry 35–6.
During the nineties, despite thrilling displays under Paul Turner
Paul Turner (rugby player)
Paul Turner , is a former Wales international rugby union player and the former head coach of Welsh regional side Newport Gwent Dragons.- Playing career :...
, and his successor John Mitchell
John Mitchell (rugby player)
John Eric Paul Mitchell, is a noted former rugby union player and former coach for the New Zealand All Blacks. Mitchell's rugby career blossomed with the club side Fraser-Tech after he moved from King Country in 1984 and was soon elected Waikato Colts captain...
, both club and ground struggled to keep a grip on the demanding commercial and financial realities of running a professional rugby club.
Sale took 20,000 fans to 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...
for the 1997 Pilkington Cup Final but Leicester won a mistake ridden match 9–3. This interest quickly faded and the anticipated increased crowds never materialised and relegation from the Premier Division
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
loomed until rugby union-playing local businessman Brian Kennedy came to the rescue late in the 1999–2000 season. Since then, the club has been on a sound financial footing.
Off the field, Peter Deakin
Peter Deakin
Peter Deakin was raised in Oldham, Lancashire, England. He played Rugby League in the town but made his name through sports marketing....
was recruited from Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
rugby league as Chief Executive to employ the skills he had used with the Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
and Saracens and he made an immediate impact in raising the club's profile until hit by the serious illness which claimed his life in February 2003.
Success was not immediate; Sale Sharks finished eleventh and tenth in the 12-strong Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
table in the first two years of the new Millennium. It took the coaching partnership of two former Sale players, Jim Mallinder
Jim Mallinder
Jim Mallinder is the coach of Northampton Saints and the former head coach of Sale Sharks, England Under 21s and England Saxons.-Biography:In his playing days, Mallinder was a fullback at Sale Sharks, where he stayed for 15 years as a player and a coach...
and Steve Diamond
Steve Diamond
Steve Diamond is a former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s who at club level has played rugby union for Newport RFC, playing at Flyhalf, i.e. number 10, and at representative level has played rugby league for Wales, and at club level for Wakefield...
, to produce a team that were 2002 runners-up and qualified for the Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
.
Player signings matched the elevated profile of the club. Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
skipper Bryan Redpath
Bryan Redpath
Bryan William Redpath is a former rugby union player, and a member of the Scottish line of scrum-halves that include Gary Armstrong, Roy Laidlaw, Alan Lawson, Chris Cusiter and Mike Blair. Bryan attended Kelso High School in Kelso, Scottish Borders.Redpath won 60 caps playing for Scotland,...
was joined by Stuart Pinkerton, Barry Stewart
Barry Stewart
Barry Stewart Northampton Saints rugby union player, position prop. He also played for the Scotland rugby union team and won five caps.-References:...
, Graeme Bond
Graeme Bond
Graeme Bond is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1967 and 1973 and then again between 1975 and 1977 for the Richmond Football Club and then from mid-1977 until 1980 for the St Kilda Football Club....
, Jason White
Jason White (rugby player)
Jason Phillip Randall White is a Scottish rugby union footballer. He is a utility forward who can play any position in the second or back row of the scrum—lock, flanker, or number eight. White plays at club level for French Top 14 side ASM Clermont Auvergne and also plays for Scotland.He is...
and Andrew Sheridan
Andrew Sheridan
Andrew Sheridan is an English rugby union player and musician, who plays loosehead prop for Sale Sharks.Sheridan is tall, which is unusually tall for a prop, and weighs...
. The club then turned to the wealth of talent, hitherto largely untapped, in Rugby League. Apollo Perelini
Apollo Perelini
Apollo Perelini is a former Samoan dual code rugby international player.Apollo Perelini played for St. Helens in the Rugby League Premiership and the Super League...
, known as "The Terminator" for his uncomprimising style, joined Sale Sharks the day after helping St. Helens to victory in the Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
Grand Final at Old Trafford and the media had a field day when Jason Robinson
Jason Robinson
Jason Thorpe Robinson OBE is an English former international rugby union and rugby league player of the 1990s and 2000s. Playing at wing or fullback, he won fifty-one rugby union international test caps in total for England, and in rugby league he won twelve caps for Great Britain and seven for...
, possibly the most exciting wing in the world in either code, moved to Sale from Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
.
In 2002 the team also went on to capture the Parker Pen Shield
European Challenge Cup
The European Challenge Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup, is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup. The cup was known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005. The European...
at Oxford's Kassam Stadium
Kassam Stadium
The Kassam Stadium is the home of Oxford United Football Club, and is named after the ground's owner, and former chairman of the club, Firoz Kassam....
, defeating Pontypridd
Pontypridd RFC
Pontypridd Rugby Football Club, known as Ponty, are a rugby union team from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, currently playing in the British and Irish Cup, Principality Premiership, and are the current SWALEC Cup champions....
25–22.
2006–2007 season
After the success of the 2005/06 season many at the club had hoped for a repeat and with a strong squad boosted by several quality players including England Saxons centre Chris BellChris Bell (rugby player)
Chris Bell is a rugby union footballer who plays at centre for London Wasps, formerly with Leeds, Harlequins and Sale Sharks.-External links:****-References:...
, Former Wales prop Ben Evans
Ben Evans
For the fictional Sunset Beach character see Ben Evans Ben Evans is a former international Wales rugby union player. A prop, he has played for Ospreys, Cardiff Blues and Calvisano. He currently plays for Jersey Rugby Football Club.-External links:*...
and Argentina flanker Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe
Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe
Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe is an Argentine rugby union footballer. He currently plays for Toulon in the French Top 14, having moved from Sale Sharks in England's Guinness Premiership. He previously played for Liceo Naval, and has represented Argentina...
it seemed likely. However over the autumn months an injury crisis began with the loss of Scotland capain Jason White
Jason White (rugby player)
Jason Phillip Randall White is a Scottish rugby union footballer. He is a utility forward who can play any position in the second or back row of the scrum—lock, flanker, or number eight. White plays at club level for French Top 14 side ASM Clermont Auvergne and also plays for Scotland.He is...
to a knee injury whilst playing against Romania. More bad news followed with England fly half Charlie Hodgson
Charlie Hodgson
Charles Christopher Hodgson is an English rugby union footballer. He plays fly-half for Saracens and England. He is also the leading Premiership points scorer of all time.-Early years:...
and England prop Andrew Sheridan
Andrew Sheridan
Andrew Sheridan is an English rugby union player and musician, who plays loosehead prop for Sale Sharks.Sheridan is tall, which is unusually tall for a prop, and weighs...
falling to knee and ankle injuries respectively. More and more injuries were picked up over the following months until Sale were left with only 17 of a 38 man squad fit to play in their final Heineken cup match against the Ospreys. (Source: Sale sharks website)
2007–2008 season
In 2007-8, it was World Cup year so the club was without some of out big names e.g. Jason WhiteJason White (rugby player)
Jason Phillip Randall White is a Scottish rugby union footballer. He is a utility forward who can play any position in the second or back row of the scrum—lock, flanker, or number eight. White plays at club level for French Top 14 side ASM Clermont Auvergne and also plays for Scotland.He is...
, Andrew Sheridan
Andrew Sheridan
Andrew Sheridan is an English rugby union player and musician, who plays loosehead prop for Sale Sharks.Sheridan is tall, which is unusually tall for a prop, and weighs...
, Sebastien Chabal
Sebastien Chabal
Sébastien Chabal, born 8 December 1977 in Valence, Drôme, is a French rugby union rugby player. He has played number eight and lock professionally for the French team Bourgoin ; the English team Sale Sharks ; the French team Racing Métro 92 Paris ; and the French national side. He earned his first...
etc. They still had Charlie Hodgson
Charlie Hodgson
Charles Christopher Hodgson is an English rugby union footballer. He plays fly-half for Saracens and England. He is also the leading Premiership points scorer of all time.-Early years:...
who wasn't picked for 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...
. Sale appointed James Jennings
James Jennings
James Ryan Jennings is an English footballer who plays for Cambridge United as a defender.-Career:Born in Manchester, Greater Manchester, Jennings joined the senior Macclesfield Town team in May 2006 and made his debut in a 1–0 victory against Walsall in the FA Cup as a 90th minute substitute on...
as the new Chief Executive and Dean Schofield
Dean Schofield
Dean Schofield is a professional Rugby union player who plays for RC Toulon. He plays lock and is a product of Aldwinians RUFC. He first came to prominence when scoring twice as Aldwinians beat Dudley Kingswinsford in the NPI Cup Final at Twickenham...
as the new captain. Sale had signed some good players including Rory Lamont
Rory Lamont
Rory Lamont is a rugby union player who plays fullback and on the wing most recently he played for RC Toulon and currently for the Scotland. Rory is the younger brother of Sean Lamont.- Club career :...
, Brent Cockbain
Brent Cockbain
Brent John Cockbain is a rugby union player who played lock for Sale Sharks in the English Guinness Premiership, and has won 20 caps for Wales.-Club career:...
, Rudi Keil
Rudi Keil
Rudi Keil born 8 December 1977 in Johannesburg, South Africa is a rugby union centre.Keil moved to Sale from Gloucester. One of Keil's best performances for Gloucester was when he scored 2 tries against Saracens on 4 November 2006. He signed with French club Nice in 2011...
, Julien Laharrague
Julien Laharrague
Julien Laharrague is a French rugby union footballer, usually playing on the wing or at fullback. He currently plays for Aironi in the Magners League . Laharrague has also played for France....
and Scott Lawson
Scott Lawson
Scott Lawson is a Scottish rugby union player who plays club rugby for Gloucester Rugby after moving there from Sale Sharks in September 2008, and plays internationally for . He plays as a hooker....
but the biggest signing had to be Luke McAlister
Luke McAlister
Charles Luke McAlister is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays first five-eighths and second five-eighths ....
from the Blues in New Zealand. Signing him was said to be one of the biggest signings Sale had ever made. The season was up and down in parts though. The up parts were; seeing Ben Foden
Ben Foden
Benjamin Foden is a rugby union footballer who plays for Northampton Saints and England. He plays at fullback or scrum-half, but can also operate on the wing...
progress at full back to become a superb player, beating Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
home and away was a first plus seeing Richard Wigglesworth
Richard Wigglesworth (rugby player)
Richard Eric Peter Wigglesworth is an English rugby union player for Saracens in the Aviva Premiership.Born in Blackpool, England, Wigglesworth's position of choice is as a scrum-half and can also operate as a fly-half or as a winger....
play for England for the first time was a plus. The academy players also became an integral part to the squad (Neil Briggs
Neil Briggs
Neil Briggs is a rugby union player for Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership.Briggs plays as a Hooker, but he can also play as a Flanker as he has done on numerous occasions for the Sharks....
, Sean Cox
Sean Cox
Sean Francis Cox is a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. He is the older brother of Mike Cox, Michigan's Attorney General....
, Will Cliff
Will Cliff
Will Cliff is a rugby union player for Sale Sharks. He had a loan spell at Glasgow WarriorsCliff currently plays scrum half, wearing the number 9 shirt. He scored his first try for the club in Sale's 49–24 win over CA Brive in the European Challenge Cup quarter-final.-References:...
). However, the low points were not qualifying for the semi finals in the Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
or win a trophy as they were targets at the beginning of the season. Overall it was a mixed season. (Source: Sale sharks website)
At the end of the season, several players left the club: Ben Foden
Ben Foden
Benjamin Foden is a rugby union footballer who plays for Northampton Saints and England. He plays at fullback or scrum-half, but can also operate on the wing...
, Chris Mayor
Chris Mayor
Chris Mayor born 19 May 1982 in Wigan, England is a former Rugby League player for Wigan Warriors and currently a rugby union player for the London Wasps in the Aviva Premiership....
and Ignacio Fernández Lobbe
Ignacio Fernández Lobbe
Carlos Ignacio Fernández Lobbe is an Argentine rugby union footballer. He currently plays with English side, Bath Rugby in the Aviva Premiership...
all signed for Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
, where they were joined by Christian Day
Christian Day
Christian Day is a rugby union player for Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership. Day previously played all of his professional career at Sale except for a 3 month temporary contract at French giants Stade Français.He previously captained England Under 21s and also has represented England at...
. Sililo Martens
Sililo Martens
Sililo Victor Martens is a Tongan international rugby union player.-Career:Martens was born in Auckland New Zealand to a Tongan mother and Australian father. He spent most of his childhood in the Islands of Tonga where he was moved to Auckland New Zealand to start his education...
joined Llanelli Scarlets
Llanelli Scarlets
The Scarlets are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Llanelli, south-west Wales the team play at the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, as well as competing in the LV= Cup and the Heineken Cup...
while Magnus Lund
Magnus Lund
Magnus Lund is an English Rugby Union player, who plays in the back row for Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque.He was educated at the Lancaster Royal Grammar School where he played for the first XV. He also studied Business Enterprise at the Manchester Metropolitan University...
, Julien Laharrague
Julien Laharrague
Julien Laharrague is a French rugby union footballer, usually playing on the wing or at fullback. He currently plays for Aironi in the Magners League . Laharrague has also played for France....
and Ben Evans
Ben Evans
For the fictional Sunset Beach character see Ben Evans Ben Evans is a former international Wales rugby union player. A prop, he has played for Ospreys, Cardiff Blues and Calvisano. He currently plays for Jersey Rugby Football Club.-External links:*...
joined teams in France.
2008–2009 season
During the closed season the retirement through injury of Steve HanleySteve Hanley (rugby player)
Steven Melvyn Hanley is a former rugby union footballer who played on the wing for the Sale Sharks, signing with the club in 1998. He played one Test for England and scored a try in his debut against Wales. He was Sale's "Player of the Year" in 2004...
was announced. On 19 August 2008, Juan Fernández Lobbe
Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe
Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe is an Argentine rugby union footballer. He currently plays for Toulon in the French Top 14, having moved from Sale Sharks in England's Guinness Premiership. He previously played for Liceo Naval, and has represented Argentina...
was announced as the captain for the new season, replacing Jason White
Jason White (rugby player)
Jason Phillip Randall White is a Scottish rugby union footballer. He is a utility forward who can play any position in the second or back row of the scrum—lock, flanker, or number eight. White plays at club level for French Top 14 side ASM Clermont Auvergne and also plays for Scotland.He is...
who was still recovering from a serious knee injury last season. Sebastien Chabal
Sebastien Chabal
Sébastien Chabal, born 8 December 1977 in Valence, Drôme, is a French rugby union rugby player. He has played number eight and lock professionally for the French team Bourgoin ; the English team Sale Sharks ; the French team Racing Métro 92 Paris ; and the French national side. He earned his first...
and Dean Schofield
Dean Schofield
Dean Schofield is a professional Rugby union player who plays for RC Toulon. He plays lock and is a product of Aldwinians RUFC. He first came to prominence when scoring twice as Aldwinians beat Dudley Kingswinsford in the NPI Cup Final at Twickenham...
were announced as vice-captains.
A new Premiership record of 4 games without leaking a try was set at the start of the season, these games were Newcastle (A), Saracens (H), Bristol (A) and Gloucester (H).
On 4 December 2008 the Board of Sale Sharks announced that Philippe Saint Andre would step down from his position as Director of Rugby at the end of the 2008/2009 season. Kingsley Jones, the current Head Coach was promoted to Director of Rugby at the end of the 2008/9 season, assuming overall responsibility for all rugby operations at the Club. Former Sale winger Jason Robinson
Jason Robinson
Jason Thorpe Robinson OBE is an English former international rugby union and rugby league player of the 1990s and 2000s. Playing at wing or fullback, he won fifty-one rugby union international test caps in total for England, and in rugby league he won twelve caps for Great Britain and seven for...
took over as Head Coach from the start of the 2009/2010 season.
Sale Sharks were knocked out of the European Cup in the group stages. Despite Sale earning a bonus point win over Clermont in France in the first round, a defeat at home to Munster, a defeat to Montauban and Munster beating The Sharks in Ireland led to a disappointing exit.
Charlie Hodgson was voted the player of the year at the club's end-of-season awards on Thursday 30 April 2009.
2009–2010 season
It was announced in February 2009 that the new coaching team for the 2009/10 season will be led by the new Director of Rugby Kingsley Jones, the new Head Coach Jason RobinsonJason Robinson
Jason Thorpe Robinson OBE is an English former international rugby union and rugby league player of the 1990s and 2000s. Playing at wing or fullback, he won fifty-one rugby union international test caps in total for England, and in rugby league he won twelve caps for Great Britain and seven for...
assisted by Phil Keith-Roach
Phil Keith-Roach
Phil Keith-Roach was the Rugby Union scrum coach to the England 2003 Rugby World Cup side.Keith-Roach was a three time Cambridge Blue playing as a hooker. Subsequently he went on to become the captain of Rosslyn Park F.C. for over ten years....
(forwards coach) and Byron Hayward (Kicking Coach).
It was announced on 18 March 2009 that Sale Sharks had signed Ben Cohen. The former England Winger signs from French outfit Brive.
Dean Schofield has once more received the captaincy, this time for season 2009–2010 season.
It was announced in February 2010 that Sale had signed Welsh international Dafydd James until the end of the season to provide cover for all the injured players.
Sale had a disappointing season, finishing 11th in the Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
and only securing safety from relegation on the penultimate weekend of the season.
Sale's Heineken cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
campaign also ended in disappointment, although they did challenge the group favourites Toulouse
Stade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps...
and the Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
. The highlights of the campaign were a stunning 27–26, win at home to Cardiff
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
and wins home and away against Harlequins.
Towards the end of the season, there were changes made in the coaching staff with Jason Robinson and Phil Keith-Roach leaving the club and Mike Brewer coming in to be Head Coach with Kingsley Jones still being Director of Rugby.
Current squad
Internationally Capped players
Mark CuetoMark Cueto
Mark John "Frank" Cueto is an English international rugby union player. He plays on the wing for Sale Sharks and England.-Biography:...
Hendre Fourie
Hendre Fourie
Carel Hendrik Fourie, generally known as Hendre Fourie , is a South African born English professional Rugby footballer currently playing for Aviva Premiership side Sale Sharks after signing from Leeds Carnegie in the Summer of 2011. His preferred position is at Flanker. Although he was born in...
Andrew Sheridan
Andrew Sheridan
Andrew Sheridan is an English rugby union player and musician, who plays loosehead prop for Sale Sharks.Sheridan is tall, which is unusually tall for a prop, and weighs...
Wame Lewaravu
Wame Lewaravu
Ratu Wame Ganilau Lewaravu is a Fijian rugby union player. He plays as a lock.-Club:He currently plays for Sale Sharks having previously played for Overmach Parma and London Welsh.-Debut:...
Tony Buckley
Tony Buckley
Tony "Mushy" Buckley is an Irish rugby union player from Newmarket, County Cork, who plays tighthead prop for Sale in the Aviva Premiership and for Ireland. He is currently one of the heaviest men playing professional rugby, weighing in at 21 st 5 lbs or 135 kilograms. He wears size 16 boots...
Sam Tuitupou
Sam Tuitupou
Sam Tuitupou is a New Zealand international rugby union player who plays for Sale in the Aviva Premiership. His position is Inside Centre....
Vadim Cobîlaş
Vadim Cobîlaş
Vadim Cobîlaş is a Moldovan rugby union player. He plays as a prop.He played for VVA-Podmoskovye Monino in Russia, before being assigned for Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership in England, in 2 March 2011. He is the first Moldovan rugby player to become a professional in England.Cobîlaş plays...
Andrei Ostrikov Tasesa Lavea
Tasesa Lavea
Tasesa James Lavea is a New Zealand rugby union footballer of Samoan descent and heritage, who currently plays for English club Sale Sharks.-Career:...
Johnny Leota
Johnny Leota
Johnny Leota is a professional rugby union player who played for Manawatu in the ITM Cup. He signed for Sale Sharks in the Summer of 2011...
Alasdair Dickinson
Alasdair Dickinson
Alasdair Dickinson is a Scottish rugby union footballer, who plays for Sale Sharks. He plays as a prop. He is a product of the Scottish Institute of Sport....
Richie Vernon
Richie Vernon
Richie Vernon is a Scotland rugby union player formerly of Glasgow Warriors. He currently plays for Sale Sharks for the 2011/12 season.Educated at the High School of Dundee....
Dwayne Peel
Dwayne Peel
Dwayne John Peel is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Sale Sharks and Wales. He is the most capped scrum-half for the Wales national rugby union team....
Andy Powell
Players In
Joaquín TuculetJoaquín Tuculet
Joaquín Tuculet is a rugby union player who plays for Sale in the Aviva Premiership. Tucelet is capable of playing Fullback , Centre or Fly-half ....
(from
Los TilosClub de Rugby Los Tilos
Club de Rugby Los Tilos is a rugby union club from the city of La Plata, Buenos Aires.-History:In 1944, the city of La Plata had two rugby clubs: Universitario and La Plata; disabused players of the former seceded and went on to found the Club de Rugby Los Tilos on January 29, 1944.The name "Los...
) Charlie Amesbury
Charlie Amesbury
Charlie Amesbury is a rugby union footballer who plays on the wing or full back for Sale Sharks after signing from Newcastle Falcons in the Summer of 2011. He also plays for England Sevens....
(from
Newcastle FalconsNewcastle Falcons
The Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in...
) Luther Burrell
Luther Burrell
Luther Burrell is a professional rugby union player for Sale Sharks, he signed from Leeds Carnegie in the Summer of 2011. Burrell started his career at Huddersfield Rugby Union Football Club.Burrell has experienced playing Rugby League and before joining his local Rugby Union side spent two years...
(from
Leeds Carnegie) Mark EasterMark Easter
Mark Easter is a rugby union footballer who plays at No. 8 or Flanker for Sale Sharks after signing from the Northampton Saints in the Summer of 2011...
(from
Northampton SaintsNorthampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
) Hendre Fourie
Hendre Fourie
Carel Hendrik Fourie, generally known as Hendre Fourie , is a South African born English professional Rugby footballer currently playing for Aviva Premiership side Sale Sharks after signing from Leeds Carnegie in the Summer of 2011. His preferred position is at Flanker. Although he was born in...
(from
Leeds Carnegie) Andrew Higgins (from Exeter ChiefsExeter Chiefs
Exeter Rugby Club are a rugby union club based in Exeter, Devon.The Exeter club was formed around 1871 and played its first match in 1873. The first team has been rebranded as the Exeter Chiefs and play in a strip of Black , White ....
) Kearnan Myall
Kearnan Myall
Kearnan Myall is a rugby union footballer for Sale Sharks. He previously played for Leeds Tykes.Myall has been a key figure in Leeds carnegie's promotion charge so far in the 2008/9 season...
(from
Leeds Carnegie) Joe Ward (from London WaspsLondon Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
) Tony Buckley
Tony Buckley
Tony "Mushy" Buckley is an Irish rugby union player from Newmarket, County Cork, who plays tighthead prop for Sale in the Aviva Premiership and for Ireland. He is currently one of the heaviest men playing professional rugby, weighing in at 21 st 5 lbs or 135 kilograms. He wears size 16 boots...
(from Munster
Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
) Sam Tuitupou
Sam Tuitupou
Sam Tuitupou is a New Zealand international rugby union player who plays for Sale in the Aviva Premiership. His position is Inside Centre....
(from Munster
Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
) Andrei Ostrikov (from
Stade AurillacStade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne
Stade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne is a French rugby union club, which play in Rugby Pro D2, the second division of French rugby. The club currently play at the Stade Jean Alric, which has a capacity of around 10,000. The club was founded in 1904...
) Tasesa Lavea
Tasesa Lavea
Tasesa James Lavea is a New Zealand rugby union footballer of Samoan descent and heritage, who currently plays for English club Sale Sharks.-Career:...
(from
ClermontASM Clermont Auvergne
Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne are a French rugby union club from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne that currently competes in Top 14, the top level of the French league system, ASMCA are the were the 2010 France Top 14 Champions. It is the rugby section of the multi-sport club...
) Johnny Leota
Johnny Leota
Johnny Leota is a professional rugby union player who played for Manawatu in the ITM Cup. He signed for Sale Sharks in the Summer of 2011...
(from
ManawatuManawatu Rugby Union
Manawatu Rugby Union is the governing body of the sport of Rugby union in the Manawatu rugby province. The Union is based in the city of Palmerston North but has a catchment area from nearby towns in the province, including Feilding, Rongotea, Linton, Bulls, Pahiatua, Dannevirke and...
) Alasdair Dickinson
Alasdair Dickinson
Alasdair Dickinson is a Scottish rugby union footballer, who plays for Sale Sharks. He plays as a prop. He is a product of the Scottish Institute of Sport....
(from
Gloucester) Fraser McKenzie (from Edinburgh) Richie VernonRichie Vernon
Richie Vernon is a Scotland rugby union player formerly of Glasgow Warriors. He currently plays for Sale Sharks for the 2011/12 season.Educated at the High School of Dundee....
(from
Glasgow WarriorsGlasgow Warriors
The Glasgow Warriors, formerly Glasgow Rugby, are one of two professional rugby union teams in Scotland, Edinburgh being the other. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12 and their home ground is Firhill Stadium, also the home of Partick Thistle Football Club.-History:Glasgow Rugby were created to...
) Scott Mathie
Scott Mathie
Scott Mathie is a rugby union player for Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership competition. He plays as a scrum-half. Mathie had previously played for the Blue Bulls, Natal Sharks and Leeds Carnegie....
(from
Leeds Carnegie) Andy Powell (from London WaspsLondon Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
)
Players Out
Chris Bell (to London WaspsLondon Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
) Chris Brightwell
Chris Brightwell
Chris Brightwell is a New Zealand-born rugby union player currently playing for Sale Sharks in the English Premiership. Brightwell appeared for Hawkes Bay, Poneke Premiers and Wellington Development in his home country before moving to Birmingham and Solihull in 2008.He then signed for Bedford...
(to
England SevensEngland national rugby union team (sevens)
The English national rugby union sevens team compete in the World Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-Honours:* 1973 International Seven-A-Side Tournament - Winners* Rugby World Cup Sevens Winners 1993* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2002* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2003*...
) Ben Cohen - Retiring Sean Cox (to
EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
) Rhys Crane
Rhys Crane
Rhys Crane is a rugby union player for Sale Sharks, who plays as a wing. He joined Bath after completing a degree in sports and exercise science at Cardiff University....
Carl Fearns
Carl Fearns
Carl Fearns is a rugby union player for Bath Rugby in the Aviva Premiership. He plays as a back-row.Fearns made his Sale debut in an EDF Energy Cup match against Cardiff Blues, winning the Man of the Match award....
(to
BathBath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
) Jack Forster
Jack Forster
Jack Forster is a rugby union player for Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership. He usually plays at prop....
Chris Jones (to
Worcester Warriors) Charlie HodgsonCharlie Hodgson
Charles Christopher Hodgson is an English rugby union footballer. He plays fly-half for Saracens and England. He is also the leading Premiership points scorer of all time.-Early years:...
(to
SaracensSaracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
) Selorm Kuadey
Selorm Kuadey
Selorm Kuadey is a professional rugby union player who played for the Sale Sharks who are in the Aviva Premiership...
Chris Leck
Chris Leck
Chris Leck is a rugby union player for Edinburgh Rugby in the Celtic League. He plays as a scrum-half.-External links:*...
(to
EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
) Simon McIntyre (to
London WaspsLondon Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
) Fergus Mulchrone Nic Rouse
Nic Rouse
Nic Rouse born 10 February 1981 in Chatham, Kent, England is a rugby union player for Nottingham R.F.C. in the RFU Championship. He previously played for Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership. He plays as a lock. Rouse joined Sale Sharks in 2010 from Nottingham...
(to
NottinghamNottingham R.F.C.
Nottingham Rugby Football Club are a rugby union club based in Nottingham, England. The club's first team currently play in the Championship, the second tier of English Rugby....
) Mathew Tait
Mathew Tait
Mathew Tait is an English rugby union footballer. He is an outside centre, a fullback or wing...
(to
Leicester TigersLeicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
) Asaeli Boko
Asaeli Boko
Asaeli Boko is a Fijian rugby union footballer who plays number 8 for the Flying Fijians and Sale Sharks. Boko, is known for his versatility and is able to pack down at second row, flanker or his favoured position of number 8. He was a key player in the Fijian's Autumn tour of 2009 starting in all...
(to
Nadroga) Sisa KoyamaiboleSisa Koyamaibole
Sisaro Dautu Koyamaibole is a Fijian rugby union player. His usual position is number eight. Koyamaibole has been capped 38 times by| Fiji, including playing in the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups, and has played for the country in rugby sevens tournaments...
(to
LyonLyon OU
Lyon Olympique Universitaire or LOU is a French rugby union team that competes in the Top 14, the first level of the country's professional league system. They earned their spot in the Top 14 by winning the 2010–11 title of the second-tier Pro D2....
) Neil McMillan
Neil McMillan
Neil McMillan is an Irish rugby union flanker. He played for Sale Sharks.McMillan was educated at Belfast Royal Academy and was part of the BRA Schools' Cup winning team in 1997. McMillan joined Ulster Rugby at the start of the 2001–02 season, making his debut against Tortellini Scriblets and has...
Matty James (to
Bristol RugbyBristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...
) Kristian Ormsby
Kristian Ormsby
Kristian Ormsby is a New Zealand rugby union player. In his rugby career so far he has played for Counties-Manukau, the Hurricanes, the Chiefs and the New Zealand Maori...
Karena Wihongi
Karena Wihongi
Karena Wihongi is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays as a prop, and has "a reputation for powerful scrummaging courtesy of his hefty 19st 9lb, 6ft 1in frame." He previously played his club rugby for the Aviva Premiership side Sale Sharks, to whom he was signed in 2010...
(to
CastresCastres Olympique
Castres Olympique is a French rugby union club located in the Midi-Pyrénées city of Castres and currently competing in the top level of the French league system.Founded in 1898, the club took its current name in 1906...
) Anitelea Tuilagi Paul Williams (to
Stade Français) Jonny KennedyJonny Kennedy
Jonny Kennedy was the subject of the documentary The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off, which documented the final months of his life as he suffered from the rare inherited condition known as dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa . He was born with no skin on his left leg...
- Retiring Eifion Lewis-Roberts (to
ToulonRC Toulonnais
RC Toulonnais is a French professional rugby union club based in Toulon in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
)
Notable former players
| Ignacio Fernández Lobbe Ignacio Fernández Lobbe Carlos Ignacio Fernández Lobbe is an Argentine rugby union footballer. He currently plays with English side, Bath Rugby in the Aviva Premiership... Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe is an Argentine rugby union footballer. He currently plays for Toulon in the French Top 14, having moved from Sale Sharks in England's Guinness Premiership. He previously played for Liceo Naval, and has represented Argentina... Graeme Bond Graeme Bond Graeme Bond is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1967 and 1973 and then again between 1975 and 1977 for the Richmond Football Club and then from mid-1977 until 1980 for the St Kilda Football Club.... Jan Macháček Jan Macháček Jan Macháček is a former Czech rugby player. He is one of arguably the two most famous Czech rugby players, along with Martin Jágr... Pete Anglesea Pete Anglesea Peter Anglesea was a rugby union footballer who played back row and second for the Sale Sharks. Regarded as a genuine Sale legend when forced to retire through injury in 2006, he first took a role within the community team at Sale and is now part of the coaching set up... David Baldwin Jos Baxendell Jos Baxendell Jos Baxendell is a former Sale Sharks rugby union player, now coach. He played in two full tests for England, both in 1998.-References:... Chris Bell Chris Brightwell Chris Brightwell Chris Brightwell is a New Zealand-born rugby union player currently playing for Sale Sharks in the English Premiership. Brightwell appeared for Hawkes Bay, Poneke Premiers and Wellington Development in his home country before moving to Birmingham and Solihull in 2008.He then signed for Bedford... Tony Bond Ben Cohen Fran Cotton Fran Cotton Francis Edward Cotton is a former English rugby union prop forward who played for England and the British Lions. His clubs included Coventry R.F.C. and Sale. After retiring, he remained in rugby administration and founded a clothing company... Sean Cox Sean Cox Sean Francis Cox is a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. He is the older brother of Mike Cox, Michigan's Attorney General.... Rhys Crane Rhys Crane Rhys Crane is a rugby union player for Sale Sharks, who plays as a wing. He joined Bath after completing a degree in sports and exercise science at Cardiff University.... Steve Diamond Eric Evans Ben Foden Ben Foden Benjamin Foden is a rugby union footballer who plays for Northampton Saints and England. He plays at fullback or scrum-half, but can also operate on the wing... Barry Foy Steve Hanley Steve Hanley (rugby player) Steven Melvyn Hanley is a former rugby union footballer who played on the wing for the Sale Sharks, signing with the club in 1998. He played one Test for England and scored a try in his debut against Wales. He was Sale's "Player of the Year" in 2004... |
Charlie Hodgson Charlie Hodgson Charles Christopher Hodgson is an English rugby union footballer. He plays fly-half for Saracens and England. He is also the leading Premiership points scorer of all time.-Early years:... G.A.M. Isherwood G.A.M. Isherwood George Aldwyn Methuen Isherwood was a rugby union international who was part of the first official British and Irish Lions team that toured South Africa in 1910.-Early life:... Chris Jones Selorm Kuadey Selorm Kuadey Selorm Kuadey is a professional rugby union player who played for the Sale Sharks who are in the Aviva Premiership... Chris Leck Chris Leck Chris Leck is a rugby union player for Edinburgh Rugby in the Celtic League. He plays as a scrum-half.-External links:*... Magnus Lund Magnus Lund Magnus Lund is an English Rugby Union player, who plays in the back row for Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque.He was educated at the Lancaster Royal Grammar School where he played for the first XV. He also studied Business Enterprise at the Manchester Metropolitan University... Jim Mallinder Jim Mallinder Jim Mallinder is the coach of Northampton Saints and the former head coach of Sale Sharks, England Under 21s and England Saxons.-Biography:In his playing days, Mallinder was a fullback at Sale Sharks, where he stayed for 15 years as a player and a coach... Barrie-Jon Mather Barrie-Jon Mather Barrie-Jon Mather is a former Great Britain national rugby league team and England Rugby Union International player. He is best known for being the first Great Britain Rugby League International Player to be capped by England at Rugby Union... Dewi Morris Dewi Morris Dewi Morris is a former rugby union footballer, who played scrum half for England.Morris made his England debut in 1988 against Australia. He was dropped in 1990 in favour of Richard Hill, but returned to the England side in 1992 and was the Lions scrum-half in 1993... Joe Mycock Joe Mycock Joseph "Joe" Mycock was a former English rugby union player who once captained the England national team. At club level he represented Sale.-Notes:... David Rees Jason Robinson Jason Robinson Jason Thorpe Robinson OBE is an English former international rugby union and rugby league player of the 1990s and 2000s. Playing at wing or fullback, he won fifty-one rugby union international test caps in total for England, and in rugby league he won twelve caps for Great Britain and seven for... Nic Rouse Nic Rouse Nic Rouse born 10 February 1981 in Chatham, Kent, England is a rugby union player for Nottingham R.F.C. in the RFU Championship. He previously played for Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership. He plays as a lock. Rouse joined Sale Sharks in 2010 from Nottingham... Alex Sanderson Alex Sanderson 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.... Pat Sanderson Pat Sanderson Patrick Harold Sanderson is a former England international rugby union player and flanker for Worcester, the team he currently captains... Dean Schofield Dean Schofield Dean Schofield is a professional Rugby union player who plays for RC Toulon. He plays lock and is a product of Aldwinians RUFC. He first came to prominence when scoring twice as Aldwinians beat Dudley Kingswinsford in the NPI Cup Final at Twickenham... Hal Sever Hal Sever Hal Sever was an English rugby international playing ten matches. He was educated at Shrewsbury School, which is normally regarded as a footballing school. He made his debut in 1936 as a member of the first English team to defeat the All Blacks and played an integral role in the English team in... Steve Smith Steve Smith (English rugby player) For other rugby players of the same name see Steve Smith and Steve Smith Stephen James Smith is a former international rugby union player... Mathew Tait Mathew Tait Mathew Tait is an English rugby union footballer. He is an outside centre, a fullback or wing... |
Stuart Turner Andy Titterell Trevor Woodman Trevor Woodman Trevor James Woodman MBE is a former English rugby union footballer. He went to Liskeard School in Cornwall and won representative honours with Cornwall Under 16s.... Richard Wigglesworth Sébastien Bruno Sébastien Bruno Sébastien Bruno is a French rugby union footballer who plays as a hooker for Toulon and formerly for France. Born in Nîmes, Bruno joined Sale Sharks from French club Béziers, making his debut against Leicester Tigers in 2004. He made his international debut in 2002 against Wales, and was selected... Sébastien Chabal Sebastien Chabal Sébastien Chabal, born 8 December 1977 in Valence, Drôme, is a French rugby union rugby player. He has played number eight and lock professionally for the French team Bourgoin ; the English team Sale Sharks ; the French team Racing Métro 92 Paris ; and the French national side. He earned his first... Valentin Courrent Valentin Courrent Valentin Courrent is a rugby union player for Agen in the Top 14 competition. He plays as a fly-half. He has won both the Guinness Premiership and the Top 14, being so far the only player to achieve this feat.-Honours:... Lionel Faure Lionel Faure Lionel Faure is a rugby union player for Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14. Faure plays as a Loosehead prop, and previously played for the Sale Sharks and won the 2005–06 Guinness Premiership with them.... Julien Laharrague Julien Laharrague Julien Laharrague is a French rugby union footballer, usually playing on the wing or at fullback. He currently plays for Aironi in the Magners League . Laharrague has also played for France.... Sisa Koyamaibole Sisa Koyamaibole Sisaro Dautu Koyamaibole is a Fijian rugby union player. His usual position is number eight. Koyamaibole has been capped 38 times by| Fiji, including playing in the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups, and has played for the country in rugby sevens tournaments... Shane Howarth Shane Howarth Shane Paul Howarth is a New Zealand born former international rugby union player who gained four caps and scored 54 points for the All Blacks before later switching allegiance to Wales, attaining 19 Welsh caps.... Luke McAlister Luke McAlister Charles Luke McAlister is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays first five-eighths and second five-eighths .... Kristian Ormsby Kristian Ormsby Kristian Ormsby is a New Zealand rugby union player. In his rugby career so far he has played for Counties-Manukau, the Hurricanes, the Chiefs and the New Zealand Maori... Apollo Perelini Apollo Perelini Apollo Perelini is a former Samoan dual code rugby international player.Apollo Perelini played for St. Helens in the Rugby League Premiership and the Super League... Anitelea Tuilagi Paul Williams Ken Fyfe Gavin Kerr Gavin Kerr Gavin Kerr is a retired rugby union footballer who played prop, he played international rugby for Scotland. He played club rugby for Leeds Tykes , the defunct Border Reivers, Edinburgh and Sale Sharks... Rory Lamont Rory Lamont Rory Lamont is a rugby union player who plays fullback and on the wing most recently he played for RC Toulon and currently for the Scotland. Rory is the younger brother of Sean Lamont.- Club career :... |
Bryan Redpath Bryan Redpath Bryan William Redpath is a former rugby union player, and a member of the Scottish line of scrum-halves that include Gary Armstrong, Roy Laidlaw, Alan Lawson, Chris Cusiter and Mike Blair. Bryan attended Kelso High School in Kelso, Scottish Borders.Redpath won 60 caps playing for Scotland,... Jason White Oriol Ripol Oriol Ripol Oriol Ripol is a Spanish rugby union player. He plays as a wing for Worcester Warriors in the Championship. Ripol has also played for Spain and is regarded as their best player of modern times... Sililo Martens Sililo Martens Sililo Victor Martens is a Tongan international rugby union player.-Career:Martens was born in Auckland New Zealand to a Tongan mother and Australian father. He spent most of his childhood in the Islands of Tonga where he was moved to Auckland New Zealand to start his education... Epi Taione Epi Taione Epi Taione is a Tongan rugby union footballer who currently plays for London Welsh. He normally plays at centre but can cover wing or back row forward.-Rugby career:... Mike Hercus Mike Hercus Mike Hercus is a retired American rugby union footballer who played at fly-half for the USA Eagles and several top level professional clubs around the globe.... Rob Appleyard Rob Appleyard Robert Charles Appleyard is a former Wales international rugby union player. A flanker, he played club rugby for Swansea RFC. He was assistant coach to the Wales national under-20 rugby union team for the 2008 Junior Rugby World Cup.... Jonathan Bryant Jonathan Bryant Jonathan 'Jon' Bryant is a former Wales Rugby union international. His previous clubs include Pontypridd RFC, Celtic Warriors, Newport Gwent Dragons and Sale Sharks... Brent Cockbain Brent Cockbain Brent John Cockbain is a rugby union player who played lock for Sale Sharks in the English Guinness Premiership, and has won 20 caps for Wales.-Club career:... Claude Davey Claude Davey Claude Davey was a Wales international rugby union player who played club rugby for several teams, most notably Sale and Swansea. He was awarded 23 caps for Wales and captained his country eight times... Dafydd James Dafydd James Dafydd Rhys James is a former Welsh international rugby union footballer who plays on the wing or at centre. He toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2001. He has earned 45 caps for Wales and three for the British & Irish Lions... Mark Taylor Mark Taylor (rugby player) Mark Taylor is a former Wales international rugby union player who played at centre. He is a former captain of Wales and was the first person to score a try at the newly built Millennium Stadium against South Africa in 1999. He signed for Sale Sharks from Llanelli Scarlets in April 2005 and in... Lee Thomas Lee Thomas (rugby player) Lee Thomas is a Welsh rugby union player. His first professional club was Cardiff RFC which he joined in 2002. He then played for Pontypridd RFC and Celtic Warriors from 2003 until the Warriors disbanded in 2004, he returned to the capital where he stayed for two years with the Cardiff Blues until... Paul Turner Paul Turner (rugby player) Paul Turner , is a former Wales international rugby union player and the former head coach of Welsh regional side Newport Gwent Dragons.- Playing career :... Wilf Wooller |
Club honours
- Parker Pen ShieldEuropean Challenge CupThe European Challenge Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup, is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup. The cup was known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005. The European...
2002 2005 - Guinness PremiershipGuinness PremiershipThe English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
2006
Sponsorship
Sale Sharks signed a three year deal with Manchester business UKFast, the deal is for in excess of £2m. UKFast started sponsoring the club in 1999, at the same time they changed their name from Sale to Sale Sharks. Lawrence Jones (businessman)Lawrence Jones (businessman)
A serial entrepreneur, Lawrence Jones set up his first business while a sixth form student at De La Salle College in Salford. Music Design Company booked classical musicians for Manchester venues and organised events before he sold it to Granada Group in 1998....
a keen supporter of the club and managing director of UKFast announced a sponsorship deal in March 2009 which saw the end to the previous sponsor McAfee's 4 years with the club.
Headline Shirt Sponsor UKFast
UKFast
UKFast.Net Ltd or UKFast is a Manchester-based business-to-business hosting provider, offering bespoke dedicated and virtual hosting solutions within the UK web hosting industry. UKFast looks after 250,000 e-commerce web sites....
:
Full list of all sponsors of Sale Sharks:
Other sponsors include: Printerland, Cotton Traders, JobWorthDoing, Greene King IPA