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THE GALLAGHER WAY. SINCE 1927.
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5 SUNDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2022 ⋅ KICK-OFF: 3PM ⋅ AJ BELL STADIUM WELCOME TO SharKSSaIntSv HOME TEAM: PLAYED 19.02.22 ⋅ CINCH STADIUM AT FRANKLIN’S GARDENS DRAWS WINS WINS HAMMERHEAD TO HEAD LAST TIME WE MET 02552621-22 W 27 AWAY TEAM: COMPETITION: MATCH SPONSOR:
-SANDERSONALEX RUGBYOFDIRECTOR
I’m sure you, like me, are hoping that the last pre-season match against Treviso is a sign of things to come. We probably left a bit in the Galway bars the week before against Connacht but against the Italians we were bang on it. Physical at the right times and exciting in attack and I’m sure we gave Saints plenty to think about.
As you know, today’s game was rescheduled from Friday as a mark of respect after the death of Her Majesty The Queen and on behalf of everyone at Sale Sharks can I say how deeply saddened we were to hear the news on Thursday evening.
The lads have worked so hard in preseason, on and off the training pitch, and we’re all excited to get started against a really good Northampton Saints led, for the first time, by Phil Dowson.
WELCOME BACK TO THE AJ BELL STADIUM FOR OUR FIRST FIXTURE OF WHAT WE HOPE WILL BE A REALLY SUCCESSFUL 2022/23 GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP SEASON.
A WORD FROM THE AXE
Pre-season has been brilliant and I’ve loved every minute of it. It’s been hard work but it hasn’t felt like hard work. We’ve enjoyed each other’s company and I feel like as a group we’ve become really tight. That was the main aim for me because that team spirit and togetherness can carry you through the season.
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Now it’s about transferring all that
Queen Elizabeth II was an inspirational leader who gave almost 70 years of selfless service to the country she loved. Her influence and her contribution to public life, not just in this country but all around the world, is truly immeasurable.
I’d like to extend a special northern
welcome to Phil and his excellent team. Saints finished last season with six wins out of seven to pip us to a play-off place and I’m sure he’ll be wanting to carry that momentum into the new season. Our job is to stand in their way and I have no doubt the lads are ready.
Our thoughts, prayers and sincere condolences are with the Royal Family and I really hope that today’s game can be a celebration of everything that she loved so much about sport.
Gallagher is one of the largest insurance and risk management companies in the world. We are committed to our local communities— just ask the businesses and organisations supported by our Manchester team. No matter your size, sector or game plan, we are on your side. Get in touch with us: JAMES FLECTCHER, Branch Director E: James_Fletcher@ajg.com T: 07894 235 955 Find out how our local brokers can support your business at ajg.com/uk Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Spectrum Building, 7th Floor, 55 Blythswood Street, Glasgow, G2 7AT. Registered in Scotland. Company Number: SC108909. FP1160-2021 Exp 06.09.2022 | ARTUK-4318 THEPLPLAYERSOCALRESENCE.GALLAGHERWAY.SINCE1927.GLOBAL
We’re trying to do that here and I hope you’ll see more evidence of the work being done off the field at Sale Sharks in the coming weeks.
I’m so excited about this squad and I think the younger lads especially are excited too. Some big personalities have moved on and it’s now their squad and their chance to show what they can do.
For now though, enjoy today’s game. Alex.
You’ll have to wait a little while to see George Ford pulling the strings in a Sharks shirt but his contribution off the field has already been immense. He’s a proper leader and we’re seeing more and more of that each week. He’s really empowered the lads, lifted them and that shows the respect that he already has and the influence he’ll have going forward and I have no doubt that when he is fit, you’ll see the very best George Ford. He’s had a brilliant career but we feel that there’s even more to come.
Jonny Hill too has been so impressive in the last couple of weeks. He’s another big character and he’s fitted in seamlessly with the lads. He came to me after his first week to offer some observations and that was brilliant. Jason Woodward has been fantastic too and we’re hopefully not too far away from seeing him in action.
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These lads were desperate to be a part of what we’re building and that all starts today.
hard work, all that time that we’ve spent together, and the bonds that we’ve formed into our performance. We’ve worked hard but now the hard work really starts.
Over pre-season we’ve welcomed some new faces to the club and I know you’ll join me in giving a couple of them - Joe Simpson and Tom O’Flaherty - a big welcome this afternoon. Both lads have been brilliant since they joined. Joe has been one of the league’s top performers for years now and as for Flats, well let’s just say that he’s even better than I thought he was. I can’t wait to see him go.
Away from Sale it’s been a challenging time for the game and for the Premiership with the issues being faced by Worcester Warriors. It’s really sad for the game, and sad for the players – some of whom we know well - and their families who have had no influence in the club’s financial position. We all have to learn from what’s happened. Rugby clubs need to be sustainable, viable businesses. I don’t have the answers but there’s work that needs to be done to build our game to become more than just what happens on the field.
Introducing our brand-new Macron home and away kits for the upcoming 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership, Heineken Champions Cup and Allianz Premier15s season.
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Both shirts are Muscle Fit garments and are made mainly from EcoArmevo fabric with Eco-Bodytex inserts for lightness, breathability and maximum strength.
“We’ve worked really hard with Macron to create designs that both celebrate the club’s history and heritage, and take us forward into an exciting new season. “We’ve got a squad packed full of exciting, young northern talent and I can’t wait to see them run out in front of a packed stadium when the season gets underway.”
The home shirt sees Sharks’ traditional navy blue matched with a royal blue on the sleeves, while the away marks a return to a shade of red known as garnet.
The shirts, created using Macron’s 100 per cent recycled eco-fabric, both feature contrasting shades of colour with a darker shade on the main body and a lighter one for the sleeves.
Both shirts feature shark-fin logos embossed on the sleeves and the club’s iconic shark fin 1861 logo, marking the year the club was formed, on the back.
Sale Sharks CEO Sid Sutton said: “We’re all really excited to share this season’s kits with our supporters.
The new Sharks home and away kits, as well as a full bespoke range of club training and leisurewear, are available in-store and online.
The men’s team have already had their first runout in the new strips against Italian side Benetton Treviso last Friday night.
FABRIC OF THE NORTH
Home shorts and socks are blue with white trim while the away shorts and socks match the colour of the away shirt.
The necklines of the shirts, which will be worn by both Sale Sharks Men’s and Women’s teams, see a return for a traditional style white collar.
The kits, which are the second to be unveiled since the club signed a six-year deal with Italian technical sportswear giants Macron last year, celebrate the team, the community and the family that makes Sale Sharks unstoppable.
Sale Sharks Women will wear the new kit the following day when they kick off their season against Bristol Bears on September 17.
OUR BRAND NEW 22-23 KITS ARE AVAILABLE TO BUY IN-STORE AT THE CLUB SHOP AND ONLINE AT SHOP.SALESHARKS.COM.
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what had worked with my right one, and I knew what I had to do.”
IT’S BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR SINCE SHARKS FANS CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF JOSH BEAUMONT IN PREMIERSHIP ACTION AT THE AJ BELL STADIUM.
WHEN IFOCUS.ITITONCAREERYOURISTHELINEBRINGSALLINTOIKNEWWHATHADTODO.
Beaumont senior – former England captain Bill – retired from the rugby at the age of 29 and struggled to come to terms with the end of his career. And Josh says that drove him to put the extra hard yards into training.
“I went through some difficult times and some long days in the gym but by the time I was rehabbing my left knee, I knew
“It’s been really frustrating from a personal perspective and there have been some dark moments. When the left knee went after I’d spent so long out with the right one that’s when it got really tough. Then I felt rehab had gone well and I tore my hamstring.
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He said: “The last couple of years have been really tough. I did my right knee in 2020 and spent 18 months in rehab, and not long after coming back my left knee went. It was the back end of the 2021 season and it was obvious straight away that something wasn’t right. I tried to rehab it over the summer, but it turned out that it needed an operation.
He said: “What happened to my dad was on my mind, especially towards
BEAU IS BACK
Since his last league start, in June 2021 against Quins, fans’ favourite Josh has suffered a torn hamstring and a second major knee injury to add to the one that kept him out for most of 2020. But now the popular forward is back. And he can’t wait to get going.
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“It feels so good to be a part of a Premiership squad again, for a game in front of our fans. It’ll mean a lot to me but also to my family and friends too, who’ve supported me through all the difficult moments.
“All the hard work will be worth it to have that moment again. Through all the tough times in rehab I was visualising what it would feel like to play here again and do what I love. It’s been such a long time and I can’t wait.”
We can’t wait to watch you Josh. Welcome back.
“Over this summer I knew I had to put extra time when maybe some of the other lads were takinga break or on holiday. I had the Treviso friendly and then this first game of the season in mind and I wanted to make sure I was stronger than I ever had been.”
He added: “I’ve felt so much support from the Sharks supporters. On my social media and whenever I’ve been at the stadium they’re always wishing me well and telling me how much they’re looking forward to seeing me out there
“Thereagain.were
times when I found coming to home games and watching the lads really hard but the support that I had from the supporters was so special.
Popular with the Sharks Family, Josh has been carried through his rehab by the support he’s received from his nearest and dearest – and from the AJ Bell Stadium faithful.
the end of last season. The question was asked about whether I wanted to carry on, and I gave it a lot of thought. If it had been my knee again then that might have been it, but because it was my hamstring, I felt I definitely wasn’t ready to hang up my boots.
“I had to change a few things and I sat down with the medical team to look at the way I was training and how I could strengthen my lower body. I looked at some of the lads here like Ross Harrison who go the extra mile in training. When your career is on the line it brings it all into focus. I knew what I had to do.
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lot of other academy graduates have spent a good chunk of time in the off season down under in Australia, all impressing, and that will be invaluable game time and experience for the season ahead.
We also have the excitement and experience of Joe Simpson and Jason Woodward joining, both of whom add a lot to the overall squad depth and shape in their respective positions. Both have been in and around England squads in
That result has offset a slightly disappointing loss in Connacht to mean that we continue to approach the season with that rare streak of early Autumn optimism.
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.
A long hot summer has seen the Shark Tank rested, recuperated and raring to go again; just as we imagine the players are too. Those of you who were at the preseason friendly with Benetton will have seen just that as the Sharks ran riot, including a very welcome hat trick from new signing Tom O’Flaherty.
Other new signings in the form of Jonny Hill and George Ford might not be seen on the pitch for a little while but continue to make a positive impact on the training paddock and hopefully we’ll see that impact start to come through in the team, especially the younger prospects like Tom Curtis and Gus Warr for whom a big season lies ahead. Tom and FROMa
THE SHARK TANK
Rugby is back, we’re headed to the AJ Bell and it’s the warmest you’re going to be at a Sale game for the foreseeable future – so there’s plenty to be excited about as we kick off the new season!
the past and will bring both great advice and ability to the team. It’s representative of a really clever and flexible squad building approach off the field we saw over the summer, and you can read more about our thoughts on both on our Patreon.
So we come to Northampton at home on a Sunday as the curtain raiser. Saints were a great team to watch last season with pace and running threats all over the pitch, scoring tries for fun and looking good doing it. It’s a great bar against which to assess the impact of the new attacking brains of George Ford combined with Paul Deacon on the training field, and how the team go with implementing it, to build on the defensive foundations we know Mike Forshaw has established. Add that to the extra layer and top slice that Axe brings, and that early Autumn optimism we mentioned earlier feels in healthy supply. Here’s to it lasting well into the season.
Alex, James and Lewis
TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST, CLICK HERE:
One player who isn’t a new signing but we frequently say will feel like one, and who we’re delighted to see back on the paddock, is Josh Beaumont. After a rollercoaster few years with injuries in both knees amid the Covid disruption, it’s fantastic just to be seeing him back out playing and we can’t wait to cheer him on this season to hopefully some great things with the team.
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Enjoy the game and it’s great to be back!
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-HARPERJAMES PROP
“He’s industrious, hard-working a leader among his peers, squats over 300kg, has his own business in refurbishing and selling mobility scooters and has a grade seven piano. What’s not to love about the “blue whale”?”
HOMEGROWN HARPER HERE TO STAY
But having committed his future to the club, former Merchant Taylor’s pupil James is hoping to kick on and cement a place in Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson’s plans.
He said: “I always wanted to stay here to be honest. It’s a great place to be at the moment and I really think we can achieve something special this season.
The homegrown 21-year-old, who joined the Sharks academy as a teenager from Southport RUFC, has put pen to paper on a new deal until 2026.
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DoR Alex Sanderson says there’s plenty more to come from his young star – on and off the field.
Last season proved to be a frustrating one for the powerful tighthead after a knee injury ruled him out for most of the campaign.
He added: “James Harper epitomises the young northern talent that we are looking to retain as the core of the club for years to come.
“I’ve played with a lot of these young lads right through the age grades and it’s brilliant to be able to play and train with some of my best “Lastmates.season was frustrating for me with the injury, but I’m fit again now and I want to play as many Premiership games as possible for Sale and then see where that takes me. Everyone at the club is excited for the season to start.”
Liverpool-born James, who has represented England at under 18 level, made his Sharks debut against London Irish in March, 2021.
OUR PROP JAMES HARPER HAS COMMITTED HIS FUTURE TO THE CLUB BY SIGNING A NEW LONG-TERM CONTRACT.
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He said: “ We were disappointed to lose some big characters ahead of the new season. They gave a lot to Sharks on and off the pitch and we wish them all the success in their new clubs this season and in the “Butfuture.we’ve made some fantastic additions and I’m really confident that the squad is in a really good place now going into a big season for the club.
USA internationals Carly Waters and Alycia Washington will join Italy star Sara Tounesi in the Sharks squad. England under 20s forward Iona Antwiss and under 18s hooker Niamh Swales are also amongst the eight new faces.
Jones and fly-half/centre Cara Cookland, who spent last season at DMP Sharks, make up the new Sharks’additions.Head of Rugby Operations for Women’s Rugby Callum Yorke has had to cope with the loss of captain Beth Stafford as well as Molly Kelly and Daisy HibbertJones ahead of the new season.
“We’ve added experience in Carly, Alycia, Kay and plenty of exciting young talent too and everyone is
But he says the new arrivals have given him plenty of hope for the campaign ahead.
INTERNATIONAL STARS SIGN FOR SHARKS WOMEN
England under 20s forward Iona Antwiss and under 18s hooker Niamh Swales are also among the new signings as Sharks Women look to improve on their ninth placed finish last season.
WE’VE GOT EIGHT NEW FACES JOINING OUR WOMEN’S SQUAD AT CARRINGTON AHEAD OF THE NEW SEASON.
TUSA scrum-half Carly Waters, who starred for league winners Saracens last season, is joined by towering compatriot Alycia Washington, who spent last season at Worcester Warriors Women and was part of the squad in the 2017 World Cup.
Former Waterloo prop Sophie
Another Premier15s winner in the form of back-row Kay Searcy joins from Wasps and the pack will be further strengthened by the arrival from ASM Clermont of Italian forward Sara Tounesi, who starred in the 2022 Six Nations.
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just really excited to get going now. There’s so much potential and ambition at this club and we can’t wait to see what we can achieve together this season.”
The Women’s World Cup means that the Allianz Premier15s season doesn’t get underway until November. However, Sale Sharks Women will be in action in the Allianz Cup in September.
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FOR THE NEW 22-23 SEASON, SHARKS COMMUNITY TRUST WILL BE RENAMED AS THE SALE SHARKS FOUNDATION.
Sharks Foundation – formerly
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. 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
A NEW FOUNDATION
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 Salestar.
The monthly award will shine a spotlight on those people making a big impact in communities right across the region.
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.
Now,session.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
“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.
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.
“Ultimately,channels.”
“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
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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Gallagher is one of the largest insurance and risk management companies in the world. We are committed to our local communities— just ask the businesses and organisations supported by our Manchester team. No matter your size, sector or game plan, we are on your side. Get in touch with us: JAMES FLECTCHER, Branch Director E: James_Fletcher@ajg.com T: 07894 235 955 Find out how our local brokers can support your business at ajg.com/uk Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Spectrum Building, 7th Floor, 55 Blythswood Street, Glasgow, G2 7AT. Registered in Scotland. Company Number: SC108909. FP1160-2021 Exp 06.09.2022 | ARTUK-4318 THEPLPLAYERSOCALRESENCE.GALLAGHERWAY.SINCE1927.GLOBAL