Sale Sharks v Exeter Chiefs | Matchday Programme

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THE GALLAGHER WAY. SINCE 1927.

ALEX SANDERSON -

DIRECTOR OF RUGBY

A WORD FROM THE AXE

Let me start by welcoming Rob Baxter and his Exeter Chiefs to the north west today. We’ve had a good few fixtures against them in recent times, and if those are anything to go by we should be in for another exciting battle on home soil.

We’re off to a great start in the Premiership and the Cup so far with 4 games unbeaten, but we’re keeping our feet firmly on the ground for today’s test against Exeter.

If you look at the stats for previous seasons you would never predict the score lines and shifts in control of the opening matchups across the league. Usually this period is a teething process for teams, getting into their flow at the start of the season. But this year has been anything but that. We’ve seen games you’d expect to see towards the end of the season, with more fluid attacking styles when there’s potentially less riding on them, allowing teams to open up a bit more.

In a way it’s an unknown quantity, but that gives us the perfect focus for

today’s game. Not many teams have shown a great element of control in terms of game management, and that’s what we’ll aim to get right today. Amidst the chaos and the physicality, we’ve got to remain in control and keep our composure.

We’re all too familiar with this against our opponents today, we’ve certainly been there before up against Exeter, in control of the match with 20 minutes to go, only to lose our focus looking for the bonus point as opposed to understanding what we do in the next phase. We’ll have to get that right today in order to come away with the points.

It’s an important period for us ahead of the Autumn internationals. We want to make sure we get the most out of the boys that have been picked before they head off for international duty, as well as rewarding the lads that have put in the performances over the last few weeks. It’s a tricky balance but a great problem to have.

We also took a blow last time out

WELCOME BACK TO THE AJ BELL STADIUM FOR OUR THIRD ROUND OF THE GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP AGAINST EXETER CHIEFS.

with Luke James picking up an injury which will see him side-lined for a period of time. He was playing well alongside his brother (Sam) at outside centre. But that opens up a door for the likes of Joe Carpenter to come in and show us what he’s capable of. He’s a rare talent at just 20 years old, and we’ve got big plans for him so I’m excited to see him get out there today and help the team.

We’ve also got Bevan back in the fold after his injury, which is a great boost, as well as Raffi and Jason Woodward’s return on the horizon which will bolster the squad even further.

If we can put in another performance like we did against Bath and for periods against Saints then we’re in with a good chance against any team this season, and I hope you’ll see more of that out there on the pitch today.

Enjoy the game, Al

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FROM THE SHARK TANK

Sale Sharks: A team that always starts seasons slowly. Well, if this is a slow start, it’s going to be a pretty good season isn’t it?

Four wins in a row in all competitions to start with, maximum points in the Premiership, attacking flair in evidence, defensively sound as ever and just the small matter of George Ford, Raffi Quirke and Bevan Rodd yet to come back into the side. We wouldn’t blame you for getting carried away if we’re honest.

Okay, we’ll try and caveat that optimism a touch. We looked brilliant in patches against Saints at home, but it was a typical start of the season performance with a few rusty moments and we nearly let them back in it at the end. Then again, when we were good we were really good, looking like we could cut them open or run over them from anywhere. Tom O’Flaherty just scores tries doesn’t he. It helps when you have Sam James back into top level form. We’re getting excited again...

Moving on to Bath away then, and lets not forget we went into this

game with Bath having put in a very impressive performance in a narrow loss to Bristol. With a slightly less optimistic view than if we’d been playing last season’s Bath team, Sale then wipe out any remaining positive thoughts by going down to 14 men after 7 minutes (shocked much? Us neither). But then we forget – a man down is our comfort zone. The only time we’re better is when we have 13.

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In actual fact, we didn’t look back and proceeded to steamroller Bath.

The impressive thing about this game for us was that a few times Bath wrestled some momentum back like Northampton had done the week before. But away from home, with the crowd against us, it just didn’t seem to phase the team. Every glimmer of hope they got through a try we snuffed out quickly, and it ended up as a comfortable win, topped off with the cherry of a bonus point try. Perhaps last season we might not have got that 4th try in a game like that. Rob was kicking everything – the 17 points from his boot were the points difference, Gus Warr has grabbed his chance with both hands, the forwards were all over theirs-

We’re getting carried away again aren’t we?

Luckily we had a bye week to rest and try and temper expectations. Now following that comes our biggest test so far, Exeter at home. After an uncharacteristically poor year last year, the Chiefs are looking back to their imperious best with the kind of form that saw them top the table for many a year and end up with a Premiership and Champions Cup double. It might be too early to call it a real test of Top 4 credentials, but being brutally honest it does feel like one. If we win it – well, safe to say, there’s going to be 3 excitable podcasters on Monday morning. And on that note, enjoy the game!

Alex, James and Lewis

TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST, CLICK HERE:

SHARKS WOMEN BITE BACK

SHARKS WOMEN GAVE THE PERFECT RESPONSE TO DEFEAT IN THE OPENING ROUND OF THE ALLIANZ CUP WITH A WIN OVER WASPS IN ROUND 2

After a hard-fought win against Wasps over the weekend we caught up with Team Coach and ex Welsh International Rachel Taylor (AKA. Tails) to get her thoughts on the first two rounds of the Allianz Cup.

She said ‘It was obviously tough defeat to take away from home being the first game of the Cup but it’s nice to be back at Heywood Road with a win. We set our intentions out to have a big first half and I think we did that, and it set us up strongly in the second half ’

After a dominant first half performance with Courtney Pursglove (2 tries) and Niamh Swalies (2 tries) going over the whitewash, Tails was ‘proudto seetheteamcomeoutanexpress themselveson thepitch’ However, towards the end of the first half prop, Leah Lyons had a serious injury which forced a change after a lengthy stop in play

Tails commended the team’s resilience during a difficult period.

‘Credit to the team for carrying on and managing to hold Wasps out. Everyone here at Sale Sharks wishes Lyons all the best wishes and the speediest of recoveries –she is a great asset to this team on and off the pitch.’

After a strong defensive second half performance by the Sharks, Tails praised the team for their ‘desire to defend here – after conceding quite a few points away at Bristol and they defended this place well and it’s something that we are proud of. After several changes and a yellow, we stuck together and dug deep and it’s really rewarding for us as a team’.

Sharks Women are back down at Heywood Road on Saturday 15th October to take on Saracens. All Sharks Season ticket holders get FREE entry so make sure you’re there to get behind your sharks for a BIG round 3 clash in the Allianz Cup.

SHARKS DEVELOP FUTURE

STARS WITH MANCHESTER UNITED

SESSIONS FROM SALE SHARKS FOUNDATION HAVE BECOME A PILLAR OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AT MANCHESTER UNITED ACADEMY

Sale Sharks Foundation is excited to be delivering rugby sessions at Manchester United’s Junior and Pre-Academy.

The cross-sport collaboration between the Premier League and Gallagher Premiership giants has been running for the past two years.

The bespoke sessions nurture the development of young footballers aged seven to 12, offering a crash course in rugby skills, training, and values.

Manchester United PreAcademy Lead Coach Jarrad Ince said: “As part of our approach to having a varied programme,

it’s essential we offer our children an opportunity to try different sports.

“The children thoroughly enjoy the experience of being able to participate in rugby – there are many crossovers between the sports, and it’s great to see the children learning new techniques and rules whilst dipping their toes in to a sport they are unfamiliar with.”

Rugby Development Manager at Sale Sharks Jack Leech said: “The athletic ability and professionalism of the young footballers at such a young age is amazing to witness and makes them a real joy to coach.

“It’s great to break down the barriers that we often see arising between football and rugby. Both sports can definitely learn a lot from each other.”

JACK LEECH Sharks Rugby Development Manager

A NEW FOUNDATION

FOR THE NEW 22-23 SEASON, SHARKS COMMUNITY TRUST WILL BE RENAMED AS THE SALE SHARKS FOUNDATION.

Sharks Community Trust – was formed to use the power of sport to change lives in the region and to grow rugby union to new audiences. The Foundation runs programmes in areas such as girls’ rugby, disability rugby, inclusion, veterans support, education, knife crime, mental health and employability for young people aged 16-18 who have fallen out of mainstream education.

The charitable arm of Premiership Rugby club Sale Sharks is rebranding – and to mark the change the newly named Sale Sharks Foundation is launching a hunt for the North-West’s unsung community heroes.

The monthly award will shine a spotlight on those people making a big impact in communities right across the region.

Anyone can nominate someone for the award and the winner each month will be announced on the Foundation’s social media channels with a special video from a Sharks star.

Sale Sharks Foundation – formerly

Last year the organisation worked with more than 15,000 people in total, including 5,000 young people as part of its school programmes, over 2,000 girls took part in the Girls Tackle Rugby programme and more than 1,000 people who have participated in a mental wellbeing session.

Now, with the organisation undergoing significant structural change, the decision was made to bring it closer to the club in terms of its branding.

Sale Sharks Foundation CEO Alison Warwood said: “Reintroducing the word Sale back into our name inline with the club’s identity reflects the direction are moving in as a charity. The Covid-19 pandemic not only restricted the work we could do in our community, but also our collaboration with players and

staff at the club. Sale Sharks Foundation will reintegrate the players of Sale Sharks into the work we do to help inspire more people than ever across the North West.

“Our vision is to use the power of our sport to change lives throughout the North West. Passionate, inclusive, respectful, kind, fun and proud have long been our guiding values. Now, as we grow as a Foundation we want to display these principles proudly so that they are recognised as the principles that underpin our staff and our programmes.

“To mark the beginning of Sale Sharks Foundation, we want to shine a light on those people who are working so hard across our region to change lives. We know they’re out there because we see them every day but it’s about time they got the credit they deserve.

“So we’re launching a monthly “Unsung Hero” award. Our unsung heroes will be nominated by their peers from the club across Sale Sharks official social media channels.”

“Ultimately, everyone bears social responsibility for their communities and those who live in them. As a Foundation, we proactively try to take on as much of this responsibility as possible. Now is the time to celebrate likeminded people and shine a spotlight on the people working hardest to better our communities.”

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P O W E R E D B Y M O R

YOUR SHARKS

FORWARDS

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

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

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

NYE THOMAS

CHARLIE WARDLE

MANU TULAGI

KIERAN WILKINSON

GUS WARR

JASON WOODWARD

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