Sale Sharks forward Josh Beaumont will celebrate his testimonial year this season with an exciting programme of events raising money for four very special charities.
The 32-year-old fans’ favourite was still at university when he made his debut for the club against Montpellier in the Champions Cup in 2013, and has gone on to make almost 200 appearances, including 26 as Sharks reached the Gallagher Premiership final in 2022/23 and a further 23 last season.
After more than a decade of service to his boyhood club, Josh will mark this achievement with a testimonial year, kicking off with a dinner in London next March.
The year’s events, which will also include a dinner in Manchester and a cricket match, will raise money for the Sale Sharks Foundation, Restart, the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and the Fylde Rugby Community Foundation.
Josh said: “I’m really excited for the year ahead. The testimonial is a celebration of my career but also of rugby in the North too. There will be events where fans can get involved and it will be great to give something back to them after all the support they’ve given me.
“I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved in my career. I’ve had plenty of adversity and some big injuries to come back from. I know that a rugby career is fragile and one injury can change everything.
“That’s why one of the charities I’m supporting is Restart. They do so much brilliant work to support players going through serious injury or illness.”
Josh has been a key player in the Sharks squad since his debut season in 2012/13. He was voted Players’ Player of the Year in 2014/15 and later that year he made his England debut against the Barbarians, starting at number 8 and scoring a try in a 73-12 win.
The 2016/17 season was also a memorable one for Josh as he was named Sharks captain and received a call-up to the England senior squad for the 2016 Six Nations.
During lockdown in 2020, he had to rehabilitate following knee reconstruction surgery but returned in time to play a key role in the club’s push for Premiership glory.
Josh added: “I’ve seen the club change an awful lot. I’ve seen us transition from being plucky underdogs to contenders year in, year out.
“We’re now one of the top teams in England and that’s why I’ve carried on playing when maybe there have been times when I could have packed it in.
“Playing with some of my best mates has been brilliant. It’s mad to think I grew up with lads like Tommy Taylor, Will Addison, Si McIntyre and Ross Harrison. Some of them have left the club, had kids, and come back home, and now we’re all back in the same changing room.
“The club is in a great position now and we’ve got so many fantastic young players. We’re pushing at the top of the league and we’re representing the North, where I’m from, and that’s always been a real honour.
“I still enjoy playing and I’d love to get to 200 appearances this year – who knows, maybe the 200th could be the Premiership final!”
For more information on Josh’s testimonial year, visit www.jb2025.co.uk
