Alex Sanderson has picked a youthful XV for his side’s first pre-season fixture of the 2024/25 season, away at northern neighbours Caldy (Friday 23rd August, 6.45pm KO). Tom Curtis captains the side while there are starts for prop Patrice Bell, lock Tom Burrow and England u20s winger Alex Wills.
First team experience is provided by the centre pairing of Joe Bedlow and Rekeiti Ma’asi White, while former Caldy loanee Rouban Birch is picked at number 8 and Luke James starts at full-back.
New signing Le Roux Roets will get his first taste of English rugby after he was named alongside Tom O’Flaherty on an otherwise inexperienced replacements bench.
Tumy Onasanya and hooker Ethan Caine join Ireland u20s international Bell in the front row for the Paton Field clash.
They’ll have the towering combination of Burrow and Ben Bamber for company in the second row, while Will Riley, Tristan Woodman and Birch make up an abrasive back-row.
Scrum-half Nye Thomas and skipper Curtis team up at half-back with Joe Bedlow and Ma’asi White in the centres.
Wills, Obi Ene and James, who missed most of last season through injury, form a pacy back-three.
Alex has named 11 replacements, with Harry Thompson, Ralph McEachran and Tye Ryamont offering front-row back-up. Roets, Yande Nkonge and first year academy back-rower Jos Gilmore form the rest of the forward replacements.
In the backs, experienced winger Tom O’Flaherty is joined by academy graduates Will Wootton, Osian Roberts and Albert Bradshaw.
Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15. Luke James, 14. Obi Ene, 13. Rekeiti Ma’asi White, 12. Joe Bedlow, 11. Alex Wills, 10. Tom Curtis ©, 9. Nye Thomas, 1. Tumy Onasanya, 2. Ethan Caine, 3. Patrice Bell, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Tom Burrow, 6. Will Riley, 7. Tristan Woodman, 8. Rouban Birch.
Replacements:
16. Harry Thompson, 17. Ralph McEachran, 18. Tye Raymont, 19. Le Roux Roets, 20. Jos Gilmore, 21. Yande Nkonge, 22. Will Wootton, 23. Osian Roberts, 24. Tom O’Flaherty, 25. Albert Bradshaw.
