After missing out on the play-offs, which has been standard for the club since the arrival of Alex Sanderson in January 2021. Sharks this time he needs a top four finish, if not better, to justify the investment in the team.
Signing Courtney Lawes from France and Nicky Smith from Leicester were statements about the intentions of the Sharks owner, while the arrival of England internationals Joe Marchant and Alex Lozowski added significant experience to the back line. Sanderson is a man of integrity and knows there can be no excuses for failure this time.
Sale they won just five of their 18 league games last season and will realistically need to more than double that number if they are to be in the mix for silverware at the end of the season.
Defensively, in the 2025/26 season. they were in short supply, giving a third more points compared to the previous campaign. While the overall scoring trend in PREM is on this front, delivering 602 points in 18 matches in non-championship winning form.
After a short spell at the club as a consultant towards the end of last season, Mike Forshaw is now the full-time defensive coach and improvement is expected in this area. The competitiveness of the law will require it.
Apart from the unfortunate Luke James (hamstring), Sale has a clean bill of health and is aiming for a quick start. Back-to-back wins eluded them at any stage last season, and while they won the Saracens in the second round is a difficult question, they will count on at least wins against Bristol and Harlequins from the first two home games.
Here’s our look at the depth of the Sharks squad:
Relaxed prop: Ralph McEachran, Simon McIntyre, Bevan Rodd, Nicky Smith, Oli Spencer
Nicky Smith was probably the outstanding loose in the league, along with Ellis Genge, in 2025/26 and the in-form Bevan Rodd is also up there, so Sale are blessed in this area. For all his experience, Simon McIntyre is a pretty neat backup option. 9/10
Hooker: Wills Austin, Ethan Caine, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Nathan Jibulu, Alfie Longstaff
Sale were shortchanged when Luke Cowan-Dickie was either injured or away on England duty and Nathan Jibulu was suspended. And it seems they may be relying on those two a bit too much as they look to improve on their 83.59% success rate (ranked 8th). 7/10
Fixed prop: Patreece Bell, Cebo Dlamini, Thomas Francis, Lawrence Ogbonnaya, Asher Opoku-Fordjour (both sides), Tye Raymont.
Despite his advanced age, Tomas Francis looks an upgrade for James Harper, while Asher Opoku-Fordjour should cement his reputation as one of the best young props in PREM. South African Cebo Dlamini led a somewhat nomadic life, and even had a spell in the Wales with the Dragons but will hope to find a home away from home at the Sharks, while Patreece Bell and Tye Raymont saw game time last season and will aim to continue. 7/10
Second Row: Ben Bamber, Tom Burrow, Patrick Hogg, Dylan Hodkinson, JJ Scheepers, Christ Tshiunza, Ernst van Rhyn (c)
If Christ Tshiunza can maintain the form he showed for Exeter towards the end of last season and avoid another foot injury, Nicky Smith and Tomas Francis may not be the only Welsh internationals to make a positive impression in Salford. Tshiunza’s athleticism complements the strength and physicality of Ben Bamber, not forgetting club captain and tackling machine, Ernst van Rhyn. The Sharks stole fewer opposition balls on the line than any other team in 2025/26, so that’s the job for the season. 7.5/10
Back Row: Will Bennett, Charlie Bray, Elia Canakaivata, Ben Curry, Tom Curry, Sam Dugdale, Jos Gilmore, Seb Kelly, Courtney Lawes, Reuben Logan, Jacques Vermeulen, Tristan Woodman, Taotafa Faosilipa
The availability of the Curry twins has long been a key to the Sharks’ back row depth. But with Courtney Lawes aging like fine wine, Jacques Vermeulen still confounding people, Sam Dugdale getting better every season and Ruben Logan to watch, relying on them against opponents isn’t as difficult as it once was. If both are fit for the full season, Alex Sanderson will have serious selection problems. And let’s not forget the arrival Fijian Drua No.8, Elia Canakaivata, who should make up for the loss of Dan du Preez to Bath. 9.5/10
Scrum-half: Will Bayston, Dom Hanson, Xavier Roe, Gus Warr
Potential area of weakness, depending on how well All black people XV Xavier Roe agrees. Gus Warr, played twice Scotland in 2024 is a good half for breaking boxes, but tends to play too much by the numbers. Still only 27, Roe is more of a sniper who has an instinct for marksmen, so he could be just what Sale need. 7/10
Fly-half: Ollie Davies, George Ford, Alex Lozowski
George Ford has divided opinion, mainly due to his penchant for throwing the ball around, but there is no disputing that he possesses one of the best tactical brains in the world, and Sale are lucky to call him their 10. Alex Lozowski began his professional career in the north at Leeds and will be hoping to end it on a high across the Pennines. He had very little rugby last season due to injury and hasn’t had a shot at goal in a competitive match since 2024/25, when his completion rate was just 62%, which is a concern if Ford is needed by England. 7/10
Centre: Marius Louw, Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, Joe Marchant, Osian Roberts, Toby Wilson
Joe Marchant was brought in to add some pace, guile and class to a midfield that is hard-hitting but lacking in artistry. With Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade failing to settle the question of who is England’s best option at 13, Marchant will be hungry to prove that, at 30, he still has a good few years left on the international stage now that he has returned to PREM after a lengthy spell in France. 7/10
Wing: Sebi Krippner, Ponipate Loganimasi, Tom O’Flaherty, David Opoku-Fordjour, Arron Reed, Tom Roebuck, Alex Wills
Tom O’Flaherty enjoyed a fine season in 2025/26 and in Arron Reed and Tom Roebuck, Sale have two international finishers. Fijian recruit Drew Ponipate Loganimasi won’t leave anyone wondering what he’s all about, and has gas to burn, while Alex Wills showed some good moves in the 13 games he had under his watch last season. 8/10
Backs: Joe Carpenter, Luke James, Austin Keogh
Joe Carpenter is a classic, but he missed 11 games last season through injury, leaving Sale without a specialist full-back. With Luke James currently sidelined, Sale will need to use one of their wings to fill in at 15 if England A the full-back gets a knock, which is hardly ideal given that Sale beat the fewest defenders, along with Harlequins, last season, and needs consistency in selection to make a bigger impression in attack. University student Austin Keogh is the only other player listed as a complete back. 6/10
OVERALL SCORE: 75
Gallagher PREM rating table
1. Northampton – 78
2. Bathroom – 76
3. Sale – 75
4. Exeter – 70
4. Harlequins – 70
6. Newcastle – 65.5
TRANSFERS
In: Joe Marchant (Stade Francais), Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers), Tomas Francis (Provence), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Ponepati Loganimasi (Fijian Drua), Elia Canakaivata (Fijian Drua), Cebo Diamini (Griquas), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Law Chieso-For David Bryedo Chiefs) (Coventry), JJ Scheepers (Pumas), Xavier Roe (Chiefs)
Out: Rob du Preez (Bayonet), Raffi Quirke (Newcastle Red Bulls), James Harper (Newcastle Red Bulls), Dan du Preez (Bath Rugby), Obi Ene (Newcastle Red Bulls), Rouban Birch (released), Joe Bedlow (released), Sam Bedlow (released), Frank Chatterton (released), Tom Curtis (released), Huw Davies (released), Tom Davis (released), WillGriffle John (re), WillGriffe John Tagre (re) Lightbow (released), Nye Thomas (released), Will Wootton (released), Albert Bradshaw (Leeds Tykes), Hyron Andrews (Lions), Tumy Onasanya (Coventry).
