Sale Sharks
Club Details
Sale Sharks RUFC,
Edgeley Park,
Hardcastle Road,
Stockport,
SK3 9DD
Stadium Capacity: 10,852
Website: www.salesharks.com
Founded: 1861
- 2009/10 Season Preview -
Last year: Sale's promising return of domestic results during the opening stages of last season were slightly misleading as their try return and performances were poor to say the least. But then came their 80 minutes of the season in Round One of the Heineken Cup when they travelled to face Top 14 giants Clermont. Many had written the English side off until an inspired performance brought them a bonus-point win. Enter Munster and the Irish side's double over the Sharks left them with just Guinness Premiership matters to attend with..they finished fifth, just outside the play-offs as both coach and star players moved on.
This year: Supporters will hope that warm-up defeats to such teams as Albi and Exeter were just a case of blowing off some summer cobwebs but the realists will of course look at who has gone through the off-season exit door at Edgeley Park. Losing the international guile of Juan Martin Fernandez-Lobbe, Sebastien Chabal, Luke McAlister, Sebastien Bruno et al could really hurt the Sharks under the tutelage of Kingsley Jones. There is also their Heineken Cup 'Pool of Death' that includes Toulouse, Cardiff Blues and Harlequins. Sale look like needing plenty of bounces of the ball this year!
Coach: Having taken the reins from boss Philippe Saint-Andre during the latter stages of 2008/09, Kingsley Jones now fully inherits a squad that seriously needs some guidance. Without banging on about it, the departure of six key men from last term will certainly take some getting used to as the Welshman needs to put his first pre-season behind him and fast.
Captain: Veteran second row Dean Schofield has been tasked with taking over the mantle of number eight Juan Martin Fernandez-Lobbe. Yes, the Argentine's leadership and skill set were another level up before he agreed to join Saint-Andre over at Toulon, but now it is the grit and hunger of the long-time Shark that needs to shine.
One to watch: How does the saying go? 'Every cloud has a silver lining' Now that Luke McAlister is back home in New Zealand, Sale are expected to line up with Lee Thomas and Mathew Tait outside Charlie Hodgson. The young England back has not yet regathered that slippery form of RWC 2007 but we expect him to star this season. Tait has an excellent step and pace and we hope to see it in 2009/10.
In: Sisa Koyamaibole (Toulon), Gavin Kerr (Edinburgh), Mahonri Schwalger (Scarlets), Ben Cohen (Brive), Marika Vakacegu (Cornish Pirates), Jack Forster (Gloucester), Dave Seymour (Saracens), David Bishop (Ospreys).
Out: Juan Martin Fernandez-Lobbe (Toulon), Sebastien Chabal (Racing Metro), Luke McAlister (Blues), Ross Davies (Ospreys), Jason White (Clermont Auvergne), Sebastien Bruno (Toulon), Lionel Faure (Clermont Auvergne), Rory Lamont (Toulon), Dave Ward (Cornish Pirates), Rudi Keil (Released).
Squad: Alex Shaw, Andrew Sheridan, Andy Tuilagi, Ben Cohen, Ben Roberts, Ben Vernon, Brent Cockbain, Carl Fearns, Charlie Hodgson, Chris Bell, Chris Jones, Chris Leck, Dan Birchall, David Bishop, David Doherty, Dave Seymour, David Tait, Dean Schofield, Dwayne Peel, Eifion Roberts, Gavin Kerr, Jack Forster, James Jones, Kristian Ormsby, Lee Thomas, Luke Abraham, Mahonri Schwalger, Marc Jones, Marika Vakacegu, Mark Cueto, Martin Halsall, Mathew Tait, Neil Briggs, Nick MacLeod, Oriol Ripol, Richard Wigglesworth, Rob O'Donnell, Sean Cox, Selorm Kuadey, Sisaro Kayamaibole, Will Cliff.