Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson has adopted an unconventional approach by naming his team to face Bath Rugby in the first competitive match of the 2026/27 season a full week before the fixture.
The Blue, Black and White will host Bath on Sunday, 6 September, at the CorpAcq Stadium in the opening round of the PREM Rugby Cup. This announcement comes shortly after Sale’s high-scoring pre-season friendly against Perpignan, which ended in a 53-42 defeat for the Sharks.
Sanderson’s early team reveal draws comparisons to South African coach Rassie Erasmus, who is known for breaking traditional rugby timelines when naming squads. While Sanderson’s motive may include boosting ticket sales, it also showcases Sale’s ambition ahead of the upcoming season.
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Sale have made an impressive recruitment drive, reflected in the squad selected to face Bath. Notable inclusions are England internationals Courtney Lawes, Joe Marchant, and Alex Lozowski, all named in the starting lineup. On the bench, Wales' Christ Tshiunza and New Zealand scrum-half Xavier Roe are among the replacements.
Lawes, aged 37, returns to Gallagher Premiership Rugby following a stint at Brive. Centre Joe Marchant joins from Stade Francais, and versatile back Lozowski arrives from Saracens.
Although George Ford is absent from the squad, other England talents including Bevan Rodd, Tom Roebuck, and Joe Carpenter will feature, along with Scotland internationals Gus Warr and Arron Reed.
The Sale Sharks team to face Bath Rugby is as follows:
- Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Joe Marchant, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Alex Lozowski, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Nathan Jibulu, 3. Tye Raymont, 4. Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 5. Ben Bamber, 6. Courtney Lawes, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Jacques Vermeulen.
Replacements include 16. Alfie Longstaff, 17. Ralph McEachran, 18. Patreece Bell, 19. Christ Tshiunza, 20. Tristan Woodman, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Ollie Davies, and 23. Marius Louw.
This squad announcement sets the tone for an exciting season ahead as Sale Sharks aim to build on their recent recruitment and challenge strongly in the PREM Rugby Cup and the Gallagher Premiership.