Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson has opted to reveal his squad to face Bath Rugby a full week ahead of their first competitive match of the season, mirroring a strategy recently popularised by South African coach Rassie Erasmus. The Sharks and Bath will clashed at the CorpAcq Stadium on Sunday, 6 September, kicking off the opening round of the 2026/27 PREM Rugby Cup.
Prior to this, Bath Rugby endured a high-scoring pre-season friendly in Perpignan last week, narrowly losing 53-42. Sanderson’s early squad announcement aims to build momentum and perhaps boost ticket sales ahead of the eagerly anticipated cup tie.
Sale Sharks have made significant recruitment moves in preparation for the new season, and several of their new international signings headline the squad named to take on Bath. The starting line-up includes England internationals Courtney Lawes, Joe Marchant and Alex Lozowski. Lawes, at 37, returns to the Gallagher Premiership following a stint with Brive, while Marchant arrives from Stade Francais and Lozowski transfers from Saracens.
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Among the replacements are Wales’ Christ Tshiunza and New Zealand scrum-half Xavier Roe. Although George Ford is absent from the squad, England internationals Bevan Rodd, Tom Roebuck and Joe Carpenter, along with Scotland internationals Gus Warr and Arron Reed, have been included.
The Sale Sharks squad for the match is as follows:
Starting XV: Joe Carpenter (15), Tom Roebuck (14), Joe Marchant (13), Rekeiti Ma’asi-White (12), Arron Reed (11), Alex Lozowski (10), Gus Warr (9); Bevan Rodd (1), Nathan Jibulu (2), Tye Raymont (3), Ernst van Rhyn (captain, 4), Ben Bamber (5), Courtney Lawes (6), Sam Dugdale (7), Jacques Vermeulen (8).
Replacements: Alfie Longstaff (16), Ralph McEachran (17), Patreece Bell (18), Christ Tshiunza (19), Tristan Woodman (20), Xavier Roe (21), Ollie Davies (22), Marius Louw (23).