Sale Sharks 514245 226055991 2008-07-16T17:05:53Z 87.81.209.3 /* Future Players */ {{Rugby team | teamname = Sale Sharks | image = Sale_sharks_badge.png | fullname = Sale Sharks Rugby Union Football Club | founded = 1861 | location = [[Stockport]], [[England]] | countryflag = England | ground = [[Edgeley Park]] | capacity = 10,852 | chairman = [[Quentin Smith]] | coach = {{flagicon|France}} [[Philippe Saint-André]] | league = [[Guinness Premiership]] | season = [[2007-08 Guinness Premiership|2007-08]] | position = 5th | url = www.salesharks.com | pattern_la1=| pattern_b1=_saleh| pattern_ra1=| leftarm1=191970| body1=191970| rightarm1=191970| shorts1=191970| socks1=191970| | pattern_la2=| pattern_b2=_salea| pattern_ra2=| leftarm2=FFFFFF| body2=FFFFFF| rightarm2=FFFFFF| shorts2=FFFFFF| socks2=FFFFFF }} '''Sale Sharks''' are a professional [[rugby union]] team who play in [[England]] in the [[Guinness Premiership]]. The club is an offshoot of Sale F.C., which is based in [[Sale, Greater Manchester]], but Sharks currently play in [[Stockport]] at [[Edgeley Park]], ground sharing with [[Stockport County F.C.]] Part of the process of creating a rugby union team to represent the North West region has been in the development of a strong academy. Through their junior team The Jets (Presumably named to go alongside The Sharks as a reference to [[West Side Story]]) , the club has developed many talented home-grown players, including; [[Steve Hanley (rugby player)|Steve Hanley]], [[Mark Cueto]], [[Dean Schofield]], [[Chris Jones (rugby player)|Chris Jones]], [[Andy Titterrell]] and [[Charlie Hodgson]]. ==History== The club was founded in 1861 and is one of the oldest clubs in English rugby history. Throughout their history they have been one of the leading rugby union clubs in the North of England. Sale were unbeaten in 26 matches winning 24 and drawing two in 1911. Sale's first English representative was Pat Davies in 1927. The club has consistently provided international players and, during the 1930s, had one of its most dominant periods, fielding players of the calibre of [[Hal Sever]] (England), [[Claude Davey]] and [[Wilfred Wooller]] (Wales) and [[Ken Fyfe]] (Scotland). It came as little surprise when they took out the 1936 Middlesex Sevens. [[Image:Sale FC logo.jpg|150px|right|thumb|The logo of Sale FC.]] Sale ruled the roost in county cup rugby for 15 straight seasons as they went unbeaten from 1972 to 1987 in every one of those cup fixtures. During this period, Sale competed for the chance to be English club champions. In their first year, one after the inaugural competition kicked off in 1971, they made the semi-finals only to lose to eventual winners Coventry 35-6. During the nineties, despite thrilling displays under [[Paul Turner (rugby player)|Paul Turner]], and his successor [[John Mitchell (rugby player)|John Mitchell]], both club and ground struggled to keep a grip on the demanding commercial and financial realities of running a professional rugby club. Sale took 20,000 fans to [[Twickenham stadium|Twickenham]] for the [[1997]] [[Powergen Cup|Pilkington Cup]] Final but Leicester won a mistake ridden match 9-3. This interest quickly faded and the anticipated increased crowds never materialised and relegation from the [[Guinness Premiership|Premier Division]] loomed until rugby union-playing local businessman Brian Kennedy came to the rescue late in the [[1999]]-[[2000]] season. Since then, the club has been on a sound financial footing. Off the field, [[Peter Deakin]] was recruited from [[Warrington Wolves]] rugby league as Chief Executive to employ the skills he had used with the [[Bradford Bulls]] and Saracens and he made an immediate impact in raising the club's profile until hit by the serious illness which claimed his life in February [[2003]]. Success was not immediate; Sale Sharks finished eleventh and tenth in the 12-strong [[Guinness Premiership|Premiership]] table in the first two years of the new Millennium. It took the coaching partnership of two former Sale players, [[Jim Mallinder]] and [[Steve Diamond]], to produce a team that were [[2002]] runners-up and qualified for the [[Heineken Cup]]. Player signings matched the elevated profile of the club. [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] skipper [[Bryan Redpath]] was joined by [[Stuart Pinkerton]], [[Barry Stewart]], [[Graeme Bond]], [[Jason White (rugby player)|Jason White]] and [[Andrew Sheridan]]. The club then turned to the wealth of talent, hitherto largely untapped, in Rugby League. [[Apollo Perelini]], known as "The Terminator" for his uncomprimising style, joined Sale Sharks the day after helping [[St Helens RFC|St Helens]] to victory in the [[Super League (Europe)|Super League]] Grand Final at Old Trafford and the media had a field day when [[Jason Robinson]], possibly the most exciting wing in the world in either code, moved to Sale from [[Wigan Warriors]]. In 2002 the team also went on to capture the [[European Challenge Cup|Parker Pen Shield]] at Oxford's [[Kassam Stadium]], defeating [[Pontypridd RFC|Pontypridd]] 25-22. During the close season of [[2003]], the company Cheshire Sports had been created, with The Sharks moving to share the [[Stockport County F.C.]] pitch at Edgeley Park. The all-seater capacity of over ten thousand, the enhanced entertaining facilities and the broadcast-quality floodlights emphasised the potential which Heywood Road could never have provided; however, the club still uses Heywood Road for reserve and under-21 matches. The early months of [[2004]] saw the departure of Steve Diamond and later [[Jim Mallinder]], and the arrival of ex-French International and former [[Gloucester RFC|Gloucester]] and [[CS Bourgoin-Jallieu|Bourgoin]] coach, [[Philippe Saint-André]] as Director of Rugby from the start of the [[2004]]-[[2005|5]] season. On the field, the international profile has been extended with the addition to the squad of [[Sébastien Chabal]] and [[Sébastien Bruno]]. In the season which followed the Sale Sharks won their second [[European Challenge Cup]] at the [[Kassam Stadium]] in [[Oxford]], with a convincing 27-3 victory over French side [[Section Paloise|Pau]], two tries by [[Charlie Hodgson]] and one each by [[Mark Cueto]] and [[Andy Titterell]] ending the season in style. The game saw Sale say goodbye to two club legends, [[Bryan Redpath]] and [[Jos Baxendell]], who announced their retirement from rugby after the game. The [[2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand|2005 British Lions tour to New Zealand]] included six Sharks players, and with crowds now topping 10,000 on a regular basis, Sale Sharks are the North West's most successful and highest profile rugby union club and one of the top sides in Europe. They finished on top of the ladder of the [[2005-06 Guinness Premiership]], and went on to win the final, where they defeated the [[Leicester Tigers]] 45 to 20 at a rainy Twickenham. They became the first side to finish at the top of the league, to then go on and win in the semi-final and final to become the champions. ==Strip== For the coming 2008/09 Guinness Premiership season, Sale Sharks unveiled another new look kit. For the first time the new look contemporary kit features the Sharks fin on the front of the shirt. The new kit is a continuation of the evolution of Sale Sharks kit that was started for the 2006/07 season. The home and away kits are navy-blue and white, inverted. ==2006-2007 Season== After the success of the 2005/06 season many at the club had hoped for a repeat and with a strong squad boosted by several quality players including England Saxons centre [[Chris Bell (rugby player)|Chris Bell]], Former Wales prop [[Ben Evans]] and Argentina flanker [[Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe]] it seemed likely. However over the autumn months an injury crisis began with the loss of Scotland capain [[Jason White]] to a knee injury whilst playing against Romania. More bad news followed with England fly half [[Charlie Hodgson]] and England prop [[Andrew Sheridan]] falling to knee and ankle injuries respectively. More and more injuries were picked up over the following months until Sale were left with only 17 of a 38 man squad fit to play in their final Heineken cup match against [[the Ospreys]]. (Source: Sale sharks website) ==Current Squad== {{rugby squad start}} {{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=[[Neil Briggs]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=HK | name=[[Sébastien Bruno]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=SCO | pos=HK | name=[[Scott Lawson]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=PR | name=[[Lionel Faure]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Martin Halsall]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=PR | name=[[Eifion Roberts]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Andrew Sheridan]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Stuart Turner (rugby player)|Stuart Turner]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=LK | name=[[Brent Cockbain]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Sean Cox (rugby player)|Sean Cox]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Chris Jones (rugby player)|Chris Jones]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=NZL | pos=LK | name=[[Kristian Ormsby]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Dean Schofield]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FL | name=[[Luke Abraham]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FL | name=[[Michael Hills (rugby player)|Michael Hills]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=ARG | pos=FL | name=[[Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe|Juan Fernandez Lobbe]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=SCO | pos=FL | name=[[Jason White (rugby player)|Jason White]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=N8 | name=[[Nathan Bonner-Evans]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=N8 | name=[[Sébastien Chabal]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=N8 | name=[[David Tait]] }} {{rugby squad mid}} {{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=SH | name=[[Will Cliff]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=SH | name=[[Dwayne Peel]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=SH | name=[[Richard Wigglesworth (rugby player)|Richard Wigglesworth]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FH | name=[[Charlie Hodgson]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=FH | name=[[Nick Macleod]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=[[Chris Bell (rugby player)|Chris Bell]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=CE | name=[[Rudi Keil]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=NZL | pos=CE | name=[[Luke McAlister]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=[[Matthew Tait]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=CE | name=[[Lee Thomas (rugby player)|Lee Thomas]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name=[[David Doherty]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name=[[Steve Hanley (rugby player)|Steve Hanley]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=UKR | pos=WG | name=[[Selorm Kuadey]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=Spain | pos=WG | name=[[Oriol Ripol]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FB | name=[[Mark Cueto]] }} {{rugby squad player | nat=SCO | pos=FB | name=[[Rory Lamont]] }} {{rugby squad end}} ===Future Players=== Sale Sharks have signed the following players to play in the team next season: *[[Dwayne Peel]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwayne_Peel] *[[Nick Macleod]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Macleod] *[[Mathew Tait]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathew_Tait] *[[Luke Abraham]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Abraham] *[[David Doherty]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Doherty] *[[Kristian Ormsby]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristian_Ormsby] *[[Ross Davies]] ===Current England Elite Squad=== *[[Andrew Sheridan]] *[[Mathew Tait]] ===Other Internationally Capped Players=== * {{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe|Juan Fernández Lobbe]] * {{flagicon|England}} [[Mark Cueto]] * {{flagicon|England}} [[Chris Jones (rugby player)|Chris Jones]] * {{flagicon|England}} [[Steve Hanley (rugby player)|Steve Hanley]] * {{flagicon|England}} [[Charlie Hodgson]] * {{flagicon|England}} [[Dean Schofield]] * {{flagicon|England}} [[Stuart Turner (rugby player)|Stuart Turner]] * {{flagicon|England}} [[Richard Wigglesworth (rugby player)|Richard Wigglesworth]] * {{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Bruno]] * {{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Chabal]] * {{flagicon|France}} [[Lionel Faure]] * {{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Luke McAlister]] * {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Rory Lamont]] * {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Scott Lawson]] * {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Jason White (rugby player)|Jason White]] * {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Oriol Ripol]] * {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Brent Cockbain]] * {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Dwayne Peel]] ==Notable Former Players== {| |valign="top"| * {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Jonathan Bryant]] * {{flagicon|England}} [[Fran Cotton]] * {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Claude Davey]] * {{flagicon|England}} [[Eric Evans]] * {{flagicon|United States}} [[Mike Hercus]] * {{flagicon|New Zealand}} {{flagicon|Wales}}, [[Shane Howarth]] * {{flagicon|England}} [[Dewi Morris]] |width="45"|  |valign="top"| * {{flagicon|England}} [[Joe Mycock]] * {{flagicon|Samoa}} [[Apollo Perelini]] * {{flagicon|England}} [[Hal Sever]] * {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Mark Taylor (rugby player)|Mark Taylor]] * {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Paul Turner (rugby player)|Paul Turner]] * {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Wilfred Wooller]] * {{flagicon|England}} [[Pete Anglesea]] |width="45"|  |valign="top"| * {{flagicon|England}} [[Tony Bond (rugby player)|Tony Bond]] * {{flagicon|England}} [[Barry Foy]] * {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Ken Fyfe]] * {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Bryan Redpath]] * {{flagicon|England}} [[Steve Smith (English rugby player)|Steve Smith]] * {{flagicon|England}} [[Jason Robinson]] * {{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Ignacio Fernández Lobbe]] |width="45"|  |} ==Club honours== * [[European Challenge Cup|Parker Pen Shield]] 2002 2005 * [[Guinness Premiership]] 2006 ==Current Standings== {{2007-08 Guinness Premiership Table}} ==Sources== * [http://www.mymanchesteronline.co.uk/siteadmin.asp?UserSiteId=200&UserPageId=1370&PageStyleId=3&PageTypeId=1 History of the Sale Sharks (from mymanchesteronline] * [http://www.nobok.co.uk/page/RugbyTeamsDetail/0,,10301~791692,00.html History of the Sale Sharks (from Nobok)] == External links == * [http://www.salesharks.com Official site] * [http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/sport/rugby/union_index.shtml BBC] * [http://www.salerugby.co.uk Fansite] {{Guinness Premiership}} {{European Challenge Cup}} {{Rugby union in England}} [[Category:Sale Sharks]] [[Category:Sports clubs established in 1861]] [[Category:English rugby union teams]] [[Category:Sport in Stockport]] [[Category:Clubs and societies in England]] [[de:Sale Sharks]] [[fr:Sale Sharks]] [[it:Sale Sharks]] [[sv:Sale Sharks]]