Sale Sharks

Club Details

Sale Sharks RUFC,
Edgeley Park,
Hardcastle Road,
Stockport,
SK3 9DD
 
Stadium Capacity: 10,500
Website: www.salesharks.com
Founded: 1861

- 2006/7 Season Preview -

Last time around: Sale are the undisputed champions of the Guinness Premiership. They rounded off a superb season by taking their eagerly awaited revenge on London Wasps by beating them in the semi-final and then handing off Leicester 45-20 in the final at Twickenham to seal the spoils. Not only this, but the Sharks went on to become the only team in the history of the play-offs to finish at the top of the league and go on to win the final at Twickenham. They only lost five matches last season, and were never in doubt of giving up their table-topping spot to anyone. The 2005/6 season has to be recorded as a season of unquestionable success; a season, which will go down in Sale Sharks history, as their best ever.

This time? Sale will be carrying a ton of confidence of last year's success into the 2006/7 season. They still have a back-ine that is capable of running any team off their feet when given the opportunity. The proof is definitely in the Sale pudding as flyers Mark Cueto and Steve Hanley lead the way with the most tries scored in the Premiership's history. The forwards have plenty of experience to their credit with the likes of Jason White (56 caps for Scotland), Sebastien Chabal (26 caps for France) and Ignacio Fernández Lobbe (54 caps for Argentina) leading the charge. Of course, the fans will be ruing the fact that some players who played a major part in their Premiership success have now moved on to lend their services elsewhere - for example Valentin Courrent. The usual problem will be certain to arise of international commitments will continue to be a thorn in the back-side of this team - Sale will suffer a heavy loss considering 19 of their players are legally bound to do go should their respective countries call them.

Coach: Former France captain Philippe Saint-André, who won 69 international caps, coached Gloucester for three seasons before leaving for Bourgoin in February 2002. He was sacked by the French club in January 2004 after he applied to become the next Wales coach. Since then, the Frenchman has enjoyed a wonderful taste of Premiership success with his new club, and he will be looking to keep that taste in his mouth for another season. He is joined by former Welsh captain Kingsley Jones to assist him as the two men combine their rugby backgrounds that is sure to even make the wisest owl of rugby take notice.

Captain: Former England captain Jason Robinson is a tried and tested captain for both club and country. He knows how to rally a team together and lead by a strong example on and off the pitch. His experience is invaluable and he has earned the respect from coach, player and Sale fan alike.

One to watch: Scrum-half Ben Foden is a talent in the making and one that is surely on the road to great things for club and country. Even though he lacked game time last season due to playing second-fiddle to Valentin Courrent, he now has the opportunity to show why he was picked in the England Sevens team, the England U21 World Cup squad and most recently England's Senior National Academy squad.

Final 2006/7 league position prediction: 4th
sportingodds.com prediction (29/8): 9-4 to finish first 

In: Chris Bell  (Leeds Tykes), Andrew Vilk (Northampton Saints), Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (Liceo Naval, Argentina), Lee Thomas (Cardiff Blues, Wales), John Bryant (Dragons, Wales), Ben Evans (Cardiff Blues, Wales)

Out: Peter Anglesea (retired), Ben Coutts (Queensland, Aus), Epi Taione (released), John Payne (released), Valentin Courrent (Toulouse, Fra), Robert Todd (retired), Nick Wakley (released).

Colours: White and blue

Tickets: £5 - £44

Travel connections: Manchester airport is only a twnety-minute drive away, and links you to Stockport from just about anywhere in Europe. If you come from the south, rail is probably the best bet, as Stockport lies on the main line to Manchester. There are plenty of motorways around, the M60, 61, 62 and 56 all pass by not too far away.