Sale Sharks will look to go one better this season after last year’s devastating Premiership final defeat to Saracens.
Alex Sanderson’s side head into the new season in confident mood after a stellar year finishing second in the league table.
With the league starting on Sunday the Sharks have had some early success in the Premiership Rugby cup with wins over Bedford, Caldy and Ampthill.
Sanderson’s young physical side want to prove the doubters wrong, and young scrum half Will Wootton believes they can go one better than last year. He said: “I think the sky is the limit for Sale this year. We have had some great preparation with the Prem Rugby cup games and the whole squad is raring to go now.”
Despite still only being 19 years old Wootton has had some outstanding players to develop under. He said: “I’ve learnt so much off the senior players. Raffi (Quirke) Will (Cliff) and Gus (Warr) have all been so helpful for my game and I hope I can continue to improve on the pitch.”
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲’𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀…
It’s time to wear our Shark on our sleeve 👊.
Roll on Sunday, tickets available here 👉 https://t.co/D7hr80XPDh#ReleaseYourInnerShark🦈 pic.twitter.com/NxzyN3K2LB
— Sale Sharks 🦈 (@SaleSharksRugby) October 9, 2023
It’s clear to see the brilliant environment that Sanderson has installed in the club since joining in 2021. After the shock departure of former coach Steve Diamond the ex-lock made sure to take the pressure off his players allowing more freedom with ball in hand.
Said Wooton: “ The Culture that has been set is monumental to the success that over the last year and we really hope that can continue.”
Incomings and outgoings
Sale have once again recruited brilliantly with Luke Cowan-Dickie (above) and Agustin Creevy, two high level international hookers, coming in to replace the outgoing Akker Van De Merwe and Ewan Ashman.
Elsewhere all-purpose forward South African Ersnt Van Rhynn, 25, has added to the Saffa contingent in the north west. Sam Bedlow joins his younger brother, joining from Bristol and former Leicester winger Telusa Veainu adds depth across the back three.
Former captain Jono Ross is among the other notable outgoings along with prop Coenie Oosthuizen who heads back to South Africa and Byron McGuigan has retired.
🏆 𝘽𝘼𝘾𝙆 𝙄𝙉 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘽𝙄𝙂 𝙇𝙀𝘼𝙂𝙐𝙀𝙎…
The #GallagherPrem finally returns! 🙌
The boys take on @SaintsRugby this Sunday so we need the #SharksFamily all the way! 🦈
We've also opened up an extra 100 seats in the @CCIBUK Platinum Bar!
Get tickets here 👇
— Sale Sharks 🦈 (@SaleSharksRugby) October 9, 2023
Sale Sharks kick off their bid for Premiership silverware at the AJ Bell against Northampton Saints on Sunday at 1:30pm
