Premiership
Saints name team for clash v Sale Sharks
Director of Rugby Phil Dowson has named his side for Northampton Saints’ Gallagher Premiership opener this weekend, with summer signings Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Angus Scott-Young set to make their full debuts at Sale Sharks.The men in Black, Green and Gold travel to the Salford Stadium on Friday evening (kick-off: 7.45pm) with the match available to watch via the PRTV Live streaming service.Saints have won only twice in ten previous visits to Sale in the league (2012 and 2017), but have claimed maximum points twice in last three seasons on opening weekend, and ended last season’s Premiership with six victories in seven matches – so will be hoping to carry that momentum into the new campaign.Fraser Dingwall will lead out the visitors as captain and lines up in the midfield alongside Matt Proctor, with Courtnall Skosan (who scored 11 Premiership tries last term), Ollie Sleightholme, and Tom Collins named in the back three.James Grayson will look to control the game from fly-half, while Alex Mitchell starts in the No.9 jersey having starred the last time Northampton met Sale – scoring a try and making 73 metres with two clean breaks and four defenders beaten.Up front, Salakaia-Loto makes his first competitive start for Saints in the engine room, with Alex Coles also packing down in the tight five behind an experienced front row of Alex Waller, Mike Haywood and Paul Hill.Scott-Young is named at blindside flanker in Northampton’s back row for his first taste of Premiership action, as Aaron Hinkley lines up on the other side of the scrum and Juarno Augustus (statistically the most destructive carrier of any forward in the Premiership, TOP 14, URC and Super Rugby last season with a gainline success rate of 75%) rounds off the line-up in the No.8 jersey.Amongst the replacements there is room for England fullback George Furbank, while there are more competitive Saints debuts in store for tighthead prop Alfie Petch and flanker Sam Graham if they enter the action from the bench.SALE SHARKS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTSGallagher Premiership, Round 1Friday 9 September 2022Salford StadiumKick-off: 7.45pm15 Tom Collins14 Ollie Sleightholme13 Matt Proctor12 Fraser Dingwall (c)11 Courtnall Skosan10 James Grayson9 Alex Mitchell1 Alex Waller2 Mike Haywood3 Paul Hill4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto5 Alex Coles6 Angus Scott-Young7 Aaron Hinkley8 Juarno AugustusReplacements:16 Sam Matavesi17 Emmanuel Iyogun18 Alfie Petch19 Alex Moon20 Sam Graham21 Tom James22 Tom Litchfield23 George FurbankNot considered for selection:Dan Biggar, Callum Burns, Tommy Freeman, Joseph Gaffan, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, Rory Hutchinson, Courtney Lawes, Tom Lockett, Lewis Ludlam, Ehren Painter, James Ramm, David Ribbans, Frankie Sleightholme, and Karl Wilkins.Referee: Tom FoleyAssistant Referees: Andrew Jackson and Wayne FallaNo.4: Jamie LeahyTMO: Dean Richards
Director of Rugby Phil Dowson has named his side for Northampton Saints’ Gallagher Premiership opener this weekend, with summer signings Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Angus Scott-Young set to make their full debuts at Sale Sharks.
The men in Black, Green and Gold travel to the Salford Stadium on Friday evening (kick-off: 7.45pm) with the match available to watch via the PRTV Live streaming service.
Saints have won only twice in ten previous visits to Sale in the league (2012 and 2017), but have claimed maximum points twice in last three seasons on opening weekend, and ended last season’s Premiership with six victories in seven matches – so will be hoping to carry that momentum into the new campaign.
Fraser Dingwall will lead out the visitors as captain and lines up in the midfield alongside Matt Proctor, with Courtnall Skosan (who scored 11 Premiership tries last term), Ollie Sleightholme, and Tom Collins named in the back three.
James Grayson will look to control the game from fly-half, while Alex Mitchell starts in the No.9 jersey having starred the last time Northampton met Sale – scoring a try and making 73 metres with two clean breaks and four defenders beaten.
Up front, Salakaia-Loto makes his first competitive start for Saints in the engine room, with Alex Coles also packing down in the tight five behind an experienced front row of Alex Waller, Mike Haywood and Paul Hill.
Scott-Young is named at blindside flanker in Northampton’s back row for his first taste of Premiership action, as Aaron Hinkley lines up on the other side of the scrum and Juarno Augustus (statistically the most destructive carrier of any forward in the Premiership, TOP 14, URC and Super Rugby last season with a gainline success rate of 75%) rounds off the line-up in the No.8 jersey.
Amongst the replacements there is room for England fullback George Furbank, while there are more competitive Saints debuts in store for tighthead prop Alfie Petch and flanker Sam Graham if they enter the action from the bench.
SALE SHARKS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Gallagher Premiership, Round 1
Friday 9 September 2022
Salford Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm
15 Tom Collins
14 Ollie Sleightholme
13 Matt Proctor
12 Fraser Dingwall (c)
11 Courtnall Skosan
10 James Grayson
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Alex Waller
2 Mike Haywood
3 Paul Hill
4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
5 Alex Coles
6 Angus Scott-Young
7 Aaron Hinkley
8 Juarno Augustus
Replacements:
16 Sam Matavesi
17 Emmanuel Iyogun
18 Alfie Petch
19 Alex Moon
20 Sam Graham
21 Tom James
22 Tom Litchfield
23 George Furbank
Not considered for selection:
Dan Biggar, Callum Burns, Tommy Freeman, Joseph Gaffan, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, Rory Hutchinson, Courtney Lawes, Tom Lockett, Lewis Ludlam, Ehren Painter, James Ramm, David Ribbans, Frankie Sleightholme, and Karl Wilkins.
Referee: Tom Foley
Assistant Referees: Andrew Jackson and Wayne Falla
No.4: Jamie Leahy
TMO: Dean Richards
Content & Images from – Northampton Saints Rugby
Sale Sharks have agreed a deal to sign Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu from French Top14 side Toulon.
The explosive centre, who starred for his country during the recent World Cup, has signed a one-year contract with an option for a further year.
He will join up with Alex Sanderson’s Sharks squad ahead of the start of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership season.
Waisea, 33, said: “I’ve watched the Premiership for a long time and it’s always been in the back of my mind that I would love to play there one day and experience rugby in England.
“Now that opportunity has arrived and I’m really, really happy and grateful. I’m so excited to get over there and join the boys and see how I can contribute to the team.
“I have spoken to Telusa Veainu and he only has positive things to say about the club and about Manchester.
“I’m looking forward to playing with some of the guys I’ve played against, like Tom Curry and George Ford. But I also know there are a lot of really talented young players in the Sale Sharks squad and I’m excited to share my experience and help them develop as much as I can.
“I told Alex that it’s what I’ve been doing for the last few years of my career and it’s something I’m passionate about.”
Nayacalevu, who stands at 6’4” and weighs in at 16st 7lb, spent ten years at Top14 side Stade Français before making the switch to Toulon in 2022.
He has won 34 caps for Fiji, slotting in at both centre and on the wing, and captained his country at last year’s World Cup, where the Pacific Islanders made the quarter-finals, losing 30-24 to England in Marseille.
He also famously scored for Fiji in their memorable pre-World Cup win against England at Twickenham.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Phil Brantingham to join Saracens
Prop-forward Phil Brantingham will leave Newcastle Falcons in the summer to join Saracens.
The 22-year-old has played 25 games for his home town club, and leaves with the thanks and best wishes of everyone at the Falcons.
Chairman of rugby Matt Thompson said: “Phil has done well for us and we made him a good offer to stay here.
“We respect his decision and wish him all the best for his move in the summer, but between now and then he will be fully committed to finishing the season strongly for Newcastle Falcons.”
Source – Newcastle Falcons Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that forward Cobus Wiese will leave the club at the end of the season to return to South Africa.
The 26-year-old lock has played almost 80 games for the club and scored five tries since joining from the DHL Stormers ahead of the 2020/21 season.
He played a key role last year as Sale reached the Premiership final, and this season he has featured a further 13 times for Alex Sanderson’s side.
Alex said: “Cobus will be missed by all of us on so many levels. He’s the most polite and courteous of people off the field, but the most wildly excitable man on the field, and on a night out.
“To say Cobus wears his heart on his sleeve is to do him a disservice with regards to his emotional commitment for which his body has paid the price on occasion.
“He leads by example and has earnt the respect and adoration of the group both on a professional and a personal level. We wish him every success and happiness with his move back home.”
Everyone at Sale Sharks would like to thank Cobus for his contribution to the club and the team during his time here and we wish him all the very best for the future.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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