Sale Sharks v Bath | Matchday Programme

Loyal supporters of local businesses and communities for over 90 years, we help our clients face the future with greater confidence.

THE GALLAGHER WAY. SINCE 1927.

ALEX SANDERSONDIRECTOR OF RUGBY

A WORD FROM THE AXE

We’ve got a huge clash on the cards tonight as we welcome Johann van Graan and his Bath squad to Salford. This will be Johann’s first outing to the AJ Bell as a Premiership Director of Rugby up here so I would like to extend a warm northern welcome to him and his coaching staff.

Christmas is one of the most difficult periods of the year as there are loads of things happening, contract negotiations, poor weather and a tight fixture schedule, which all need to be kept in check and trying to block out the white noise from outside influences is a challenge. That’s before you think of the rest of the world out and about having a great time with their families. We’re through that block now though and the real work starts as we look to cement our place in the league.

We’re entering the business end of the season and there are a few challenges on the horizon as fatigue starts to set in and some of our

Internationals leave Carrington to prepare for the Six Nations. Luckily, we’ve got great strength in depth within the squad so more than anything it’s an exciting time for us, and I’m looking forward to galvanizing a smaller squad over the next few weeks.

Bath have made some great progress since we last played them and they are a much more cohesive unit than we faced with fourteen men earlier in the season. They are certainly better at what they do now and they’ve got better personnel to execute that. It’s not going to take much for them to get it very right.

Looking at how they have been playing, their maul game has improved significantly, their kicking game is excellent, and they have had the fewest turnovers across the board this season. They are very well coached and will take some breaking down tonight, but I think the boys are up for the physical, territorial

A HUGE WELCOME BACK FROM ME FOR OUR FIRST TASTE OF GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP ACTION AT THE AJ BELL IN 2023. IT FEELS GOOD TO BE BACK ON HOME SOIL AFTER A TESTING WEEKEND AWAY IN BELFAST LAST WEEK

challenge they pose. I think you can expect a decent butt of heads.

A special mention tonight must go to Rob du Preez who makes his 100th appearance for the club. It’s a huge milestone to reach and the vast majority of Rob’s games this year have been absolutely epic. I’m going to wax lyrical about him to the boys before the game tonight.

Rob has a great character and drives performances from the rest of the squad. He is obviously the big brother of Jean-Luc and Daniel, but more importantly he is acting like a big brother to the whole team now, he has that kind of way about him. Rob functions best when he is able to influence through confidence of his ability and that’s why we’re seeing such great performances from him at the moment.

He’s been in every leader’s meeting and played a part in every game we’ve played this season, which

just shows how robust he is and how much he’s loving his rugby. In my view

he’s been the most consistent player in the squad this year and 100 appearances is a testament to that.

As always, I hope you have a great night tonight. It’s always good to see the AJ Bell rocking on a Friday night and the boys are all focused on putting in a performance to match.

Al

POWERING SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE RUGBY COMMUNITY

We’ve partnered with Premiership Rugby to celebrate the small business and rugby communities, and show how living your values brings success on and off the pitch.

Funding Circle is the UK’s #1 platform for business finance, offering loans of £10,000-£750,000 at fixed rates. To see how you could get a lending hand, visit fundingcircle.com

“Excellent” Based on 12,745 reviews

MaSCOtS MATCHDAY

HENRY

NAME: HENRY SMETHURST

AGE: 12

SCHOOL/CLUB: BOLTON SCHOOL FIRST TEAM POSITION: LOOSEHEAD PROP

FAVOURITE FOOD: STEAK

FAVOURITE SUBJECT: RUGBY

FAVOURITE SHARK: TOM CURRY

CATHERINE

NAME: CATHERINE KENNEDY

AGE: 8

SEASON TICKET HOLDER IN THE SOUTH STAND.

FIRST GAME AT THE AJ BELL AT ABOUT 3 MONTHS OLD.

FIRST AWAY GAME, CLERMONT AGED 6 MONTHS.

HUGH

NAME: HUGH

AGE: 10

FAVOURITE SHARK: ROB DU PREEZ

RETURN OF THE M c

Simon McIntyre’s career came full circle at the start of last season when he re-joined Sharks a full ten years after leaving the club’s academy to become a Wasp. Both the club and ‘Si Mac’ have seen big changes in the intervening decade, but now he’s back, he’s hungry and he wants to make his mark on the club that gave him a chance.

“When I was here for my first spell I had just come out of school and didn’t know what a professional environment really was,” he said. “It was quite a scary adjustment for me but leaving here was the best thing for me and testing myself in a different environment was great for my development on and off the pitch.

“Coming back here, it’s great to see the academy structure still producing incredible talent. There’s a core group of really good, homegrown players who have come through together and I’ve been so impressed with them all.

“All the investment in the academy has been brilliant and the spine of the team is rooted in the north west. You sprinkle in the influence of the South African players and I think their qualities really complement the northern grit that we have.

“The environment at the club and the day-to-day culture is wicked. We challenge each other and that’s so important if we want to grow as a team and individually. Being able

WE’RE SECOND IN THE PREMIERSHIP AND WE FEEL LIKE WE’VE GOT SO MUCH TO PLAY FOR THIS SEASON. WE WANT TO STAY AT THE TOP BECAUSE WE’VE PUT IN SO MUCH WORK TO GET TO THIS POINT.

to hold each other accountable and being able to challenge each other is a big part of why we’ve done so well this season.”

Si Mac was forced to sit out last week’s Champions Cup defeat at Ulster after suffering concussion the week before in a clash of heads with Nick Schonert, but that gave him a chance to see the game from a different perspective – as a pundit for BT Sport.

“In parts we put ourselves in good positions but we coughed the ball up too much and didn’t take opportunities when we had them,” he said. “So one of the big focuses for us has been looking at our execution and as forwards we’ve been working really hard to make sure our mentality is right for the challenge that’s coming tonight.

“I think this game tonight is a massive test. They’ve [Bath] changed drastically since we played them last but we want to put in a performance at home that we can be proud of. We’re second in the Premiership and we feel like we’ve got so much to play for this season. We want to stay at the top because we’ve put in so much work to get to this point.

“Coming back from a head injury is tough. We play a tough game and I think injuries are part and parcel. The difference with a concussion is that you have to surrender yourself to what the medics say. When you roll your ankle you might be able to push through but with a head injury you have to fight the urge to rush things.

“You have to have time to rest

and let the brain recover and then there’s a step by step process to return to training to make sure that when you do come back, you’re ready to play. We’re blessed here with an incredible medical team so it’s a bit easier to give up that control and just take their guidance.

“The medical team are great in terms of building your confidence back when it comes to going into contact again. When they say we’re right to play, we’re right to play.

“Trying my hand as a pundit was something I’ve wanted to do for a while. It was tough to be impartial because I know the work went in to that game and how special that competition is to the players. It was different, and I really enjoyed it, but I can’t wait to get back on the field with the lads tonight.”

The home of domestic rugby

As a multi-brand, multinational recruitment company, Morson Group has been connecting people with businesses to fuel global innovation for over 50 years.

We take our responsibility to sustain and develop the future of the working world very seriously Together with our clients, partner organisations and communities we ' re upskilling, reskilling, training, nurturing and inspiring the workforces of today, tomorrow and the future

We’re available to discuss talent challenges, advise on the recruitment landscape or just simply, listen. Scan to book a coffee and chat with one of our talent experts.

FROM THE SHARK TANK

You’ve got to love a bit of Friday night lights! As January comes to a close, we salute all of you who made it through Dry January to this point after some nerve-wracking times watching Sale this month, but especially anyone who was in Belfast and managed to resist the temptation of Guinness (or Murphy’s Stout) over the weekend.

The result was a shame given what a great city Belfast is to visit, and a great ground to match. Nobody could accuse the team of giving any less than their all, and the passion and defiance in defence was not only appreciated by Sale fans but Ulster fans too. A huge credit to the legendary Mike Forshaw on his final outing with Sale, and we wish him all the very best in his new role with Wales. He’ll be massively missed, not just for his coaching ability but also his personality and presence around the club.

Unfortunately, despite that defence, Sale lacked the territory, possession or attacking incision to deserve the result at Ulster. Virtually all of the second half was spent in our own territory, with the pressure building up continuously from

both an abrasive Ulster team and a passionate crowd. The first half had started brightly but as the game wore on, errors began to creep in, and Ulster’s comparatively strong squad depth in the tight five really began to tell. The seeds of this were perhaps sown in the first 15 minutes of the Toulouse game the week before, when we lost both starting props and Cobus Wiese. One shining light was Ben Curry, who proved to any

OUR WEEKLY GUEST SPOT FROM THE PODCASTING SUPERFANS OVER AT THE SHARK TANK, THE NORTHERN POWERHOUSE OF RUGBY PODCASTING, WITH A DETAILED, IRREVERENT AND OCCASSIONALLY CYNICAL LOOK AT ALL THINGS SALE SHARKS.

doubters (no Sale fans amongst them, we know!) that his England call up was richly deserved.

So, it means no Champions Cup knockout stages for the first time in three years, but it does mean an away trip to Cardiff is on the cards and hopefully a good run in the Challenge Cup awaits. Before that we welcome Bath to the AJ Bell in a quick return to Premiership action. With a couple of weeks off after tonight before the next game, it means that we can really leave nothing on the field to put us in the best possible position for the run in. Of course, that’s only part of the battle, as we face a Bath side bolstered by mid-season signings and starting to find some form, with results surely due to follow soon. Hopefully that doesn’t happen tonight, and Sale will need to be at their best to beat this side, but we’re expecting a big reaction – after all, we aren’t that used to losing this season!

Finally, a huge shoutout to Caldy for three fantastic back to back results in the Championship, beating Ealing, Richmond and Nottingham in succession. Also a mention for Sale Sharks Women who knocked over Wasps 25-0 last weekend and continue to show the RFU how wrong their decision to exclude them from next season is. It’s a great time for North West rugby, and on that positive note let’s hope that continues tonight!

Enjoy the game, Alex, James and Lewis

TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST, CLICK HERE:

SHOT CLOCK TRIALS TONIGHT

PREMIERSHIP RUGBY WILL TRIAL A SHOT CLOCK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS WEEKEND’S ROUND OF GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP RUGBY MATCHES.

A countdown of 60 seconds for a penalty kick and 90 seconds for a conversion will be displayed in the stadium with a view to speeding up the game and improving the fan experience.

Announcing the law application in December, World Rugby Director of Rugby, Phil Davies said: “World Rugby, member unions and competitions will work with broadcasters and match hosts to implement on-screen (stadia and broadcast) shot clocks for penalties and conversions to ensure referees, players and fans can view the countdown.”

The guidelines, which are fully supported by Premiership Rugby, are designed to assist match officials, players and coaches and to enhance fan experience in stadia and on television. The shot clock forms part of an initiative by World Rugby to increase the pace of play and reflect key outcomes of the Shape of the Game Conference in November.

The shot clock technology will be tested for the first time in a live match setting with match officials and timekeepers briefed on the introduction ahead of the weekend’s matches. Throughout

the trial phase, the existing processes by which referees determine the time permitted for the kicker will remain in place to maintain the sporting integrity of the competition.

Fans in the ground will be able to see the shot clock operating at the end of the electronic advertising hoardings, with some grounds also featuring it on their big screens as well. Upon successful completion of the testing process, the shot clock system will be implemented in full across the 11 Gallagher Premiership clubs and integrated with onscreen graphics systems for broadcasters BT Sport and ITV.

Rugby Director at Premiership Rugby, Phil Winstanley commented: “We are proud to support World Rugby’s shot clock directive as we maintain our commitment to speeding up the game and to continue improving the product for our fans. The operations team at Premiership Rugby have worked tirelessly to bring this project to the live trial stage and we look forward to working with our clubs and broadcasters to make it a longterm success for the league.“

SHARKS WOMEN RETURN TO WINNING WAYS

WINNING WAYS RETURNED TO CARRINGTON AS SALE SHARKS WOMEN SECURED A BONUS POINT OVER WASPS WOMEN LAST SUNDAY.

Overseeing that stunning start has been former Wales international and National Skills Coach, Rachel Taylor, who joined the club as the Women’s Performance Coach ahead of last season.

Sale looked dominant in all areas of the field and managed to get on the scoreboard early with a superb indivdual try from cocaptain Georgie Perris-Redding.This was swiftly followed by another as Catie Benson crashed over the line for Sharks’ second try of the afternoon. At the break Sale led comfortably, and our fine form continued throughout the second half. The Sharks looked to build on the winning momentum in the second forty as Vicky E Irwin set the tone early on scoring out wide for Sales third score. However, It wasn’t until the last play of the game that Sale scored their fourth from Nicola Howat, who exected a brilliant pick and go to confirm Sale’s bonus point win.

In our post-match catchup with cocaptain Lauren Delany, she said was a great five-point win for the team. I only have praise for how

well the team adapted to the pitch conditions, that goes for Wasps too. We put in a great defensive shift and the scoreline shows that the effort everyone put in coming off the back of those lines was cohesive and unbreakable. It was great to recognise our efforts in

training are paying off!”

“A big thank you to all the Sharks Family as well for coming down, it was great to hear you in full voice, it definitely drove us to that final whistle. Despite the result, we understand the momentous challenge that this league provides, we know we have things to work on but that win puts us in good stead for our hit out at Gloucester this weekend.”

Catch Sale Sharks Women back at The CorpAcq Stadium on the 4th February when we face the University of Worcester Warriors. All Sale Shark season ticket holders and U16’s get in for free, or you can pay on the door.

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SHARKS FAMILY AS WELL FOR COMING DOWN, IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR YOU IN FULL VOICE, IT DEFINITELY DROVE US TO THAT FINAL WHISTLE.

NEXT UP AT THE CORPACQ STADIUM

Sale Sharks Women are back in action on home turf on Saturday 4th February, taking on the University Of Worcester Warriors.

All Sale Shark season ticket holders and U16’ s get in for FREE, or you can pay on the door.

FOR 6-17 YEAR OLDS

PLAY LIKE THE PROS

OFFICIAL RUGBY CAMPS

Develop your rugby skills with players and coaches from England’s leading clubs. There are camps across the country for children aged 6-17.

For more info visit WWW.RUGBYCAMPS.COM

PROJECT RUGBY

PROJECT RUGBY IS RUN BY PREMIERSHIP RUGBY IN COLLABORATION WITH ENGLAND RUGBY DESIGNED TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN THE GAME BY PEOPLE FROM TRADITIONALLY UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS

The programme – which is run in partnership with Gallagher – will engage thousands of participants per year (aged 14+ and 16+ for disabled people) and will be delivered by community staff from Premiership Rugby’s 13 shareholder clubs at over 200 locations across England, providing accessible opportunities for people to participate in the

game at a time and place that can be easily accessed by target audiences.

Currently Sale Sharks are working in partnership with Widnes Rugby Club, Aldwinians Rugby Club and North Manchester Rugby Club. On top of this we have delivered our first ever LGBT sessions in partnership with Tameside council as part of the programme!

WELCOME

AND SCHOOLS

LOOK FOWARD TO HEARING YOU IN THE STANDS TODAY!

YOUR SHARKS

GEORGE ARNOLD

ROUBAN BIRCH

BEN BAMBER

EWAN ASHMAN

ETHAN CAINE

JOSH BEAUMONT

DOM BARROW

BEN CARLILE

PATREECE BELL

ELLIS CAUSEY

HUW DAVIES

JAMES HARPER

SAM DUGDALE

BEN CURRY

DAN DU PREEZ

ROSS HARRISON

CAL FORD

TOM CURRY

JEAN-LUC DU PREEZ

JONNY HILL

ALEX GROVES

JOE JONES

YANDE NKONGE

JONO ROSS

MATT POSTLETHWAITE

SIMON MCINTYRE

TUMY ONASANYA

NICK SCHONERT

WILL RILEY

EWAN MURPHY

COENIE OOSTHUIZEN

TOMMY TAYLOR

BEVAN RODD

BACKS

HARRY THOMPSON

TRISTAN WOODMAN

CONNOR DOHERTY

JOE CARPENTER

AKKER VAN DER MERWE

ROB DU PREEZ

WILL CLIFF

COBUS WIESE

JOE BEDLOW

GEORGE FORD

TOM CURTIS

ELLIOT GOURLAY

SAM JAMES

ARRON REED

TOM O’FLAHERTY

SAM HILL

BYRON MCGUIGAN

TOM ROEBUCK

AARON POPE

LUKE JAMES

BEN MOTAMED

JOE SIMPSON

RAFFI QUIRKE

STAY UP TO DATE ON ALL THE LATEST SHARKS NEWS WITH SHARK BITES!

NYE THOMAS

CHARLIE WARDLE

MANU TULAGI

KIERAN WILKINSON

GUS WARR

JASON WOODWARD

AS CAPABLE ON -ROAD AS OFF IT

Emissions 57-340 g/km. The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation. may vary according to factors such as driving styles, environmental conditions, load, wheel fitment and accessories fitted.