Sharks target record gate at Reebok stadium

Posted on Sep 29, 2010 in Championship, English Rugby

Sale Sharks aim to make North West rugby history this season by moving their Aviva Premiership Rugby match against London Irish to the Reebok Stadium, home of Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers, in what they expect will be the biggest game of club rugby ever played in the region. 

Sale Sharks will be positioning the match, to be known as Rugby at the Reebok, as a celebration of North West rugby inviting rugby players and supporters at all ages and levels from across the region to participate in the day.  As such, the club will be moving the match to a Saturday evening kick-off – Saturday 16^th April 17.30.  The Sharks have already been in discussions with the Lancashire and Cheshire County Unions to request that all of the community club matches on that day kick-off at 13.00 to enable the regions amateur players to attend the match. 

In addition to the rugby, there will be some outstanding pre and post match entertainment, and tickets have been reasonably prices with good seats starting at just £10 adults and £5 for juniors under 16, all aimed to make Rugby at the Reebok a fun event for the whole family.

Sharks long-serving fly half Charlie Hodgson says the whole squad is excited by the opportunity to run out onto the Reebok Stadium in front of 28,200 supporters. 

“As a player, you want to be play rugby on the biggest stage.  To have the opportunity to play for Sale Sharks at one of the UK’s great stadiums will be a fantastic honour for the players who are selected.  Having begun my career with the club in front of 1800 people at Heywood Road, it’s absolutely amazing to think that we will be playing a home match at a world class stadium in front of 28,200 people.”

The club’s Chief Executive Mick Hogan wants to achieve a sell out crowd. 

“Today’s announcement is the culmination of nearly twelve months work to enable us to announce this event.  We now have 7 months to achieve a sell out crowd, and I truly believe that there are almost 30,000 people in the North West who would like to attend a live game of Sale Sharks’ rugby.   We want to show the North West some real ambition and give the region a rugby team that they can truly be proud to support.”

“This isn’t a one-off either.  We have an agreement with Bolton that will see us bring a Premiership game to the Reebok Stadium over each of the next three seasons.”

Tickets are available now from the Sale Sharks’ ticket office.

England Under-19 Regional Academies beat Australia Schools

Posted on Dec 10, 2009 in Rugby News

England’s Under 19 Regional Academy opened a four-match touring programme by the Australian Schools by scoring four tries to two to claim a 27-12 victory at Lymm RFC this afternoon.

Coach John Fletcher was always confident that his side had the talent to test the visitors and they fulfilled all his expectations in holding the whip-hand from the moment full-back Jonathan Joseph (London Irish) crossed for the opening try and fly-half Jake Sharp (Saracens) converted.

Sharp claimed the second after 19 minutes and converted his own score for a 14-0 lead and while Australian centre Matthew Garland cut the deficit with a 29th minute try to raise the visitors’ morale and make the interval scoreline 14-5.

However, a third try from wingman Earl Collins (Worcester Warriors) on 40 minutes opened up the lead once again, although once again the tourists refused to concede the struggle and rallied with a try by flanker Jack de Guingand that scrum-half and captain Matthew Lucas converted to bring his side within a score at 19-12.

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Cueto signs 4 year deal with Sharks and backs Cumbria flood appeal

Posted on Nov 25, 2009 in Rugby News

Mark Cueto has signed a new four year deal with Sale Sharks which will make him the longest serving player in the club’s history.

Workington born, Mark joined Sale Sharks in 2000 and made his debut on the wing at Bristol in 2001. He has since been one of the most consistent wingers in the Premiership and is one of only three players to have scored over 50 tries (now stands at 67 tries in 137 games). One record Mark shares with Chris Oti is that in 2005 he scored a try in eight consecutive Premiership games.

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