Post by Jamie Crawford on Aug 19, 2019 9:45:30 GMT
Sale FC pre-season preview
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Following last week’s 7-47 comfortable away win against Bridgend Ravens when a six try to one victory made an impressive start to the (pre) season. The Knights now drive across the Pennines to play Sale FC at their Heywood Road ground in Sale.
The Knights welcomed Sale FC to Castle Park as part of their pre-season preparations last year. Sale FC had just been promoted to National League 1 and they finished eleventh in their first season. The Knights won comfortably 47-21 but they will face a much stronger team this year because Sale FC:
• have home advantage
• have experienced a season in National 1
• …as such have recruited a higher standard of player with the…
• aim to become a Championship team (read bold later)
• have access to Premiership backroom staff
• have access to the Sale Shark’s players
Sale Sharks is an offshoot of amateur club Sale FC, still based at Heywood Road in Sale, while the Sharks share the A.J. Bell Stadium in Barton-upon-Irwell, Eccles with Salford Red Devils rugby league club.
The team has the backing of both Sale FC Rugby and Sale Sharks and over the past 12 months has grown in both stature and size.
“Gallagher Premiership Rugby club Sale Sharks and National One side Sale FC Rugby have announced an initiative to work together more closely than ever before.
The venture entails support from the senior club, on and off the pitch, with Sale FC Rugby rising to Championship status part of the long-term ambition.
Since the advent of professionalism at Rugby Union clubs, the Sharks and the FC have been connected for over twenty five years. Indeed, the Sharks played at the iconic venue of Heywood Road until 2003.
Sale FC Rugby have the history and Sale Sharks the professionalism. They have now agreed to work together more closely than ever before.
This latest move allows the two clubs to retain their own identities. They have devised a philosophy that will assist Sale FC Rugby in their ambition to play Championship Rugby whilst avoiding financial difficulties, and concurrently develop Sale Sharks into the strongest rugby franchise in the country.
Sale Sharks will continue to invest into its own Academy and also into Sale FC Rugby, making all three teams stronger in their respective competitions.
Whilst both organisations will continue to be separate entities, operating independently in accordance with their status within the game, their rugby departments will co-operate fully…
… Sale FC Rugby will benefit from the loan of senior and talented young players on a wider level of availability. Sale Sharks, who have players gaining on-field” (direct quote from http://www.salesharks.com)
Essentially Sale FC now have access to the Sharks’ coaches, dietitians, kicking and scrum coaching expertise and rehabilitation staff plus I believe all players are Dual Registered. The Knights could be facing a few Sharks or Sharks Academy players!
Sale FC have an International player in their team, “Stone Priestley-Nangle has represented Jamaica Sevens for the last two years as they endeavour to qualify for Olympics.” (www.salesharks.com) One site recorded Priestley-Nagle as a Lock, two different sites had him as an Openside Flanker. A Flanker would seem to suit a 7-a-side rugby player rather than a Lock but you can’t assume.
As Doncaster Phoenix rise up the league tables, currently in Midlands Premier, which is level 5, they might also be able to have a symbiotic relationship with the Knights, where each team helps the other and both benefit. I don’t know what level the Phoenix would need to reach compared to the Knights to loan players to each other?
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
