[Olyy]

I'm a big fan of Lozowski, he's a better 10 option and goal kicker than SJ, but he will be 33 over the summer and not without his injury issues (only one start this season, and two <15min bench appearances) - I'd love to sign him but only at the right price

Newcastle paying £100k more for Raffi than we offered is... significant!

Love Faf but I don't think signing him would be the right move, realistically - a move to France makes a lot of sense for him both in terms of financials and his play style (not sure he'd work well paired with Ford, as they're both generals)

[SSR]

Also a better tackler than SJ and much faster. As said above , a good short term signing if
the price is right.

[ledzepsfr]

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/fissler- ... -lose-one/

Where to start!

- Lozowski close to confirmed.
- Faf likely prefering France.
- Axe banned for publicly discussing transfers and strategy.
- Raffi on £400k a year at NRB!!

Personally I would prefer Sam James back over Lozowski.


Axe banned for publicly discussing transfers and strategy.....no brainer. Never should talk about these things until the deal is done.

[RugbyMarvel]

Axe being banned from discussing transfer and contract rumours is either a joke from him and isn’t really true or alternatively makes him into a bit of a joke if it is true.

He has been a DOR for around 4/5 years, he’s had enough time to learn and understand how the rugby market works - so if it isn’t a joke, it really shines a negative light on him.

We clearly aren’t selling ourselves well or there is an issue with how Sale are perceived. We have major cities around us and the win of much more affordable housing comparatively with clubs like Sarries, Quins, Bath and Bristol etc… so financially we should be offering the right package all round, so what’s happening re vision etc?

With the rumours now being Faf isn’t coming, we need to focus on SH recruitment, as well as lock and 8.

Personally I would lose Andrews at this stage - double Kpoku might be the way forward for heft and depth. If we can’t get both, just get one. If we can get sufficient minutes into Burrow he will hopefully bulk up in off season.

Lozowski coming would be good short term business whilst we let the likes of Davies go on loan etc and I’m not wedded to the idea of us needing to spend loads more in the back 3. I’d rather us bring through academy talent faster there, which is much easier than doing so in the pack.

[Olyy]

I'm surprised it took this long to tell him to keep schtum, the comments after CCS re-signed at Quins were a very bad look for him/the club
Why would anyone want to enter negotiations if they're going to be called greedy bastards in the press if they don't sign

I'm guessing that after he said we've basically signed Kpoku other than agreeing on payment either his agent or Racing have come back and said well if you're that confident/keen then add 5%

[Bucks1861]

https://www.planetrugby.com/news/prem-r ... -27-season

Umm. Food for thoughts. Let’s see when the merry go round stops.

[RinTin]

I'm already getting carried away with having both Kpoku's even though neither have signed with us and 1 isn't even linked in dispatches. I know these types of posts are regular here, but there is real potential here for something to be built without too much effort.

Our second row stocks would be aged 21-26, all English, all plenty of top level experience. Athletic, weighty, mobile. It would be absolutely perfect. Andrews thank you very much, best of luck.

Senior back rows would be EVR (row cover too), Curry x 2, Vermeulen, Dugdale, Woodman, Logan and 1 TBC No.8.

With Ene and Wills coming through, LJ reconfirming, Marchant, Smith and Francis joining we are almost there on a rebuild. Scrummie and 8 are all I would like (plus 2 Kpoku's.).

[RinTin]

Junior Kpoku may not be as locked in as we hoped.

A promising second row in the Toulon academy, who is currently on loan at Pro D2, has jumped ship, meaning Toulon likely in the market for another young second row come end of the season... Junior will have JIFF status by that point too.

Waters well and truly muddied.

[Yareet]

BBC pod let slip that Lozowski is leaving Sarries…

[SSR]

... and coming back after lunch ?

[Olyy]

Francis named in Wales' 6N squad so any slim hope of him being registered as EQP is gone

[RinTin]

Find it surprising hat Francis is in over WGJ.

[exileneal]

Junior Kpoku may not be as locked in as we hoped.

A promising second row in the Toulon academy, who is currently on loan at Pro D2, has jumped ship, meaning Toulon likely in the market for another young second row come end of the season... Junior will have JIFF status by that point too.

Waters well and truly muddied.

I feel like if money is what is delaying things here, as Sanderson suggested, then that implies it’s a big deal for the player and so he’ll end up staying in France given they’ve got the financial firepower to blow us out of the water.

I’ve he signs with us, it’ll be a nice surprise. But I’m moving forward expecting he won’t.

[RinTin]

My point purely was that Toulon had no real need of another second row next season until now. It changes the situation and means they could be willing to throw more money at him if they like him.

[Olyy]

Maybe Toulon will steal my idea of the 2-for-1 on Kpoku brothers instead of us

[RinTin]

Glos have signed Joe Joyce from Connacht. 2 experienced second rows coming into their camp next season in Joyce and Kleyn.

[Olyy]

Tigers have signed Elliot Stooke

Lot of clubs signing good locks - hopefully Toulon haven't turned Kpoku's head

[RinTin]

Apparently we are ‘monitoring’ Alfie Barbeary….

Rumour has also appeared saying DDP has signed for Racing.

[Olyy]

Does say Bath are keen to keep him as well - imagine he'll stay there, especially so if DDP does end up in France

It reiterates our interest in the 8 at Worcester as well - he sounds a good player but at only 21, and with us having signed 20yr old Logan, I'd have thought we'd be looking for a more senior/experienced 8

[RinTin]

I was more mocking the term ‘monitoring’. No way are we signing Barbeary.

[Surbiton_Shark]

IF...IF.....I was the owner of Sale - I'd be giving serious thought about bringing in Dimes to do a review of the current playing squad and coaching staff. He's been away for sufficient time as not to be emotionally attached to anyone and give a neutral view.

We do seem to carry a fair few players on, I presume, decent wages who either just don't feature in the 1st team squad even when fit or whatever reason and you question why we have them.

I'm quite concerned that we've been declining in performance slowly since the prem final when we didn't kick on at all and it's come to a head this season - I mean what is it 3 wins in the Prem???

I would specifically look at whether Sanderson is the person who will take apparently the 'best squad ever assembled in Simon Orange' after he's overseen our decline and to be very honest whether the money we spend on George Ford is worth it. We've seen Bath transformed by Finn Russell who as a 10 gives the team confidence where Ford is still a big one for playing a mainly territorial game despite his obvious ability with passing and putting players into gaps.

[poyntonshark]

Why Dimes?. Sanderson has a better record. I don't mind the review idea, but would do it with someone completely independent of the club. I do have some concerns with the whole promote from within ethos. A northern club for northern people.

The hurried departure of Bortolami could suggest that new ideas, an outside view not toeing the party line is met with hostility.

[Surbiton_Shark]

Why Dimes?. Sanderson has a better record. I don't mind the review idea, but would do it with someone completely independent of the club. I do have some concerns with the whole promote from within ethos. A northern club for northern people.

The hurried departure of Bortolami could suggest that new ideas, an outside view not toeing the party line is met with hostility.

I like Dimes and not Sanderson :-) though your idea of utter independence is a lot more logical

Would be a decent debate about whose record is better (in a pub) - Sanderson at Sarries wasn't head honcho. At Sale he mainly took Dimes squad to the prem final and then regressed it all.

About Bortolami -why we took a foreign coach from a team that just loses all the time was a bit beyond me in the first place

[dinogyro]

Mark McCall available soon!

[Surbiton_Shark]

Mark McCall available soon!

He wanted less stressful weekends....not sure we can provide that :-)

[Olyy]

Vincent Koch wants to come back to the prem - we've been named as a potential club (alongside Bath and Newcastle) but I can't see it after signing Francis

Now he would've been a great target for a non-EQP tighthead for a couple of seasons while Bell and Ramont get more experience

[RinTin]

Newcastle have just signed a lad I've never heard of called Max Hicks. Just looked into him:

26 years old.
2m tall.
112kg's
Plays 5, 6, 7 and 8
Regular for Perpignan in the Top 14 for 2 seasons, before that The Highlanders and Tasman.
Their potential 6, 7, 8 next season is Hicks, Christie, Hoskins Sotutu.

Looks an absolutely cracking signing, and here we are chasing a number 8 is the Championship who was let go by Bath last year.

[SSR]

Is reading this thread what they mean by doom-scrolling ?

[Clutch]

We need an 8. On paper this guy looks like a versatile squad player but we need an out and out carrying 8.
Odd to use a player you have never heard of to criticise our recruitment. Besides, Newcastle will have to pay over the odds for these guys so I'd be staying well clear of trying to sign anyone they are after for now.

Who was let go by Bath, aren't we after Barbeary?

Newcastle have just signed a lad I've never heard of called Max Hicks. Just looked into him:

26 years old.
2m tall.
112kg's
Plays 5, 6, 7 and 8
Regular for Perpignan in the Top 14 for 2 seasons, before that The Highlanders and Tasman.
Their potential 6, 7, 8 next season is Hicks, Christie, Hoskins Sotutu.

Looks an absolutely cracking signing, and here we are chasing a number 8 is the Championship who was let go by Bath last year.

[RinTin]

We need an 8. On paper this guy looks like a versatile squad player but we need an out and out carrying 8.
Odd to use a player you have never heard of to criticise our recruitment. Besides, Newcastle will have to pay over the odds for these guys so I'd be staying well clear of trying to sign anyone they are after for now.

Who was let go by Bath, aren't we after Barbeary?

Newcastle have just signed a lad I've never heard of called Max Hicks. Just looked into him:

26 years old.
2m tall.
112kg's
Plays 5, 6, 7 and 8
Regular for Perpignan in the Top 14 for 2 seasons, before that The Highlanders and Tasman.
Their potential 6, 7, 8 next season is Hicks, Christie, Hoskins Sotutu.

Looks an absolutely cracking signing, and here we are chasing a number 8 is the Championship who was let go by Bath last year.

I'm comparing it to the player few of us have heard of currently playing 8 for Worcester (Abdul-Khalik let go by Bath end of 24 season). Newcastle go and get someone who has top level experience, whereas we are striking out all over the place so look to a lower league. The fact I've never heard of him, but he has that much experience (including NZ second team) shows there is real hidden potential out there still.

We made this whole transfer game seem so difficult. We've haemorrhaged top players yet can't recruit. I'm under no illusions that Newcastle are spending a lot, and lots of players doesn't mean success, but so far it's 13 guys with experience at the top level, plus Christie, Wade and Benitez Cruz for next season.

It's quite depressing to see us not being linked to anyone exciting, despite the anticipated departures.

[Olyy]

Seen rumours online that Coetzee will be the one making way for Dan DuPreez at Bath (lot of injury issues, not been seen for a while - DDP the perfect replacement!)
I imagine they'll retain Barbeary, think our name only being linked because of the DDP link

[RinTin]

Seen rumours online that Coetzee will be the one making way for Dan DuPreez at Bath (lot of injury issues, not been seen for a while - DDP the perfect replacement!)
I imagine they'll retain Barbeary, think our name only being linked because of the DDP link

He was the literal definition of a super sub last season. Make sense Bath don't renew his contract.

[AndaleManito]

I wonder why we're seemingly not recruiting talent.

The money is apparently there, though I guess not to the same extent as for Newcastle.

Next season to me is looking quite gloomy I'm afraid. We desperately need an out-and-out 8, another backrow, and world-class lock. We haven't effectively replaced JDLP (Vermeulen though prem standard, is a downgrade), Hill, and DDP and the Curries injuries/England commitments see them rarely playing.

Over a few seasons, we've gone from our best possible back 5 being:

4 JDLP
5 Hill
6 Curry
7 Curry
8 DDP

19 EVR
20 Weise

Of those, IMO 5 out of 7 (JLDP, Ben Curry, DDP, EVR, and Weise) were international-standard-but-not-current-international players.

To:

4 EVR
5 Bamber
6 Curry*
7 Curry*
8 DDP*

19 Andrews/Burrow
20 Vermeulen

*Rarely play due to injury/international commitments.

Of those, IMO only 1 or 2 out of 7 (EVR, perhaps Bamber) are international-standard-but-not-current-international players.

.........

Of course, our former "best back five" weren't always injury free (our prem final back 5 was 4. Jean-Luc du Preez, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Tom Curry, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Jono Ross, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Tom Ellis) but they seemingly played a lot more than our current "best back 5". Not to mention DDP is, even when he does play, if we're being honest, not playing at the same standard as he used to.

Thought I'd do a little stat digging, and saw an interesting picture emerge. If we just look at Ben, Tom, and DDP, here are the stats for their total prem starting (and non starting) appearances between 2021/2022 and 2025/2026 seasons:

Ben:
2021-2022: 13 (4)
2022-2023: 13 (0)
2023-2024: 13 (1)
2024-2025: 12 (1)
2025-2026: 2 (0)

Tom
2021-2022: 5 (2)
2022-2023: 11 (1)
2023-2024: 1 (0)
2024-2025: 11 (0)
2025-2026: 5 (0)

DDP
2021-2022: 18 (0)
2022-2023: 9 (2)
2023-2024: 9 (0)
2024-2025: 8 (5)
2025-2026: 1 (2)

The Currys and DDP have arguably become more important to us since the loss of JLDP, Jono, and Weise, but yet by and large they play a lot less than they used to. Though Tom plays a similar amount as before, he's still only playing half the time (5 appearances out of 10 possible games).

........

Of course, possible incoming gloomy sentiment changes somewhat if the Kpoku rumours come true, but still sees us short of a a replacement to JLDP and DDP (to my mind, Vermeulen ain't it) [assuming that EVR is the replacement for Weise - even though they were both playing for us in 2023-2024].

Basically we haven't replaced Weise, JLDP, or Hill, and now DDP and the Curries play a lot less. (caveated that Bamber is on his way, and that Tom doesn't actual play less, he's just never played that much since 2018/2019 (13 appearances, all starts), and perhaps Burrow and Logan will really kick on this/next season.)

.................

As a more general point, it seems that over the past few seasons, our best players simply don't play that much (either due to injury or international commitments), when compared to the top teams.

As a microcosm, I though I'd take a look at some fly half stats: Ford vs Russel vs. M Smith vs. F Smith vs. Farrell* appearances starting (non-starting) over the past few seasons to see if this supported my theory.

Ford
22/23: 1 (0)
23/24: 13 (0)
24/25: 13 (0)
25/26: 9 (0)

Russell
22/23: n/a
23/24: 15 (1)
24/25: 17 (1)
25/26: 7 (0)

M. Smith
22/23: 9 (0)
23/24: 12 (1)
24/25: 12 (1)
25/26: 8 (0)

F. Smith
22/23: 12 (1)
23/24: 16 (1)
24/25: 12 (1)
25/26: 6 (0)

Farrell*
22/23: 13 (0)
23/24: 13 (0)
24/25: n/a
25/26: 9 (0)

*I appreciate also covering centre

Not sure whether those stats support the theory, But Bath doing very well to get so much juice out of Russell!

To mind, Prem winning teams win because they are able to play international-standard-but-not-current-international players on the regular. I seems that we:
- Don't have enough international standard players
- Those international standard players that we do have often play internationals or are often injured, or both.

That teams are essentially punished for having their best players selected for internationals is of course an elephant in the room, and frankly a ludicrous situation, but that's the reality and the best teams will surely plan around this. I'm not sure whether we do.

I'd love to do a deeper dive comparing a load more players to truly support my theory, but alas, time isn't endless and I should get back to my day job!


TLDR: We appear to have two main problems:
1. We don't seem to have replaced some of our former really important players in the pack (Hill, JLDP, Weise), and our current important players don't seem to play that much.
2. We generally suffer too many injuries and too many of our top players spend large proportions of the season injured or playing internationally; we don't have enough international-standard-but-not-current-international on the books and/or injury free.

[SSR]

Anyone have any thoughts on our two short term wing signings ?
Have they had enough exposure to judge anything. Has Regan Grace actually been seen ?
I might have missed it. I must admit to being a bit simple by looking forward to seeing what
they could do. Does not look like their contracts will be renewed to me. Why did we bother?

[Bronzbronx]

Anyone have any thoughts on our two short term wing signings ?
Have they had enough exposure to judge anything. Has Regan Grace actually been seen ?
I might have missed it. I must admit to being a bit simple by looking forward to seeing what
they could do. Does not look like their contracts will be renewed to me. Why did we bother?

I've seen Regan warming up as a travelling reserve, but dont think ive ever seen him on the pitch

[Olyy]

Yeah, I don't really get why we signed them either tbh - both signed several weeks after injuries occurred so Carpenter came back not long after they arrived (i'm guessing the paperwork was reshuffled so they're here for Roebuck and L.James now instead of Roebuck and Carpenter?)
Not trusted enough to start or get any meaningful minutes of the bench
Obi Ene stepped up massively when given a shot and proved he was more than good enough to be the next in line behind our first team wingers


Was silly in the first place anyway, we needed 15 cover not wing

[DavenportSharky]

I think they reckoned on Tom O’F and Davies covering 15 and then the 2 signings covering Tom 0’F on the wing and taking them on trial to see if worth keeping. Yes I too saw Regan Grace warming up but can’t remember seeing him actually play. The couple of times we saw Gershwin I thought he looked pretty quick.
However it’s not those two who have been on trial, it’s Ene and Wills. I expect they will start in the Prem Cup too and perhaps for meaningless matches towards the end of the season. It’s such a shame that there are no Jets matches now. In the past we ( and the coaching staff) would have seen a lot of the academy playing together and getting a better idea of who would make it.

[LJK]

Given much of what has been said above I am still trusting that Simon Orange's comment that next season we will have the best Sale side ever, is based on something(s) that is/are known to him and management but not leaked yet, as so much transfer info. is . From what I can make out he is a straight forward guy not prone to spout PR bull, and clearly totally committed to the success of SS. I hope that judgement is correct ,and sometime in the next weeks something(s) significant is/are announced

[Olyy]

Regan Grace has just posted on Instagram that he's having to have surgery on an Achilles injury tomorrow - I imagine that's his Sale journey over, sadly

Crazy how many back to back to back injuries he's had over the last few years

[RinTin]

Regan Grace has just posted on Instagram that he's having to have surgery on an Achilles injury tomorrow - I imagine that's his Sale journey over, sadly

Crazy how many back to back to back injuries he's had over the last few years

Jesus. I'd say that's his rugby journey over. Non stop injuries since leaving league. Achilles will mean he won't be back this season at all, and he hits 30 in December. Injury prone 30 year old with minimal top level experience isn't going to be taken on anywhere.

Shame for him. 4 years of chaos.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... ynlkzwvg5o

[SSR]

Just to add to the doom and gloom, Fissler has us possibly losing out on the Kpoku transfer
( but it is Fissler reporting on RugbyPass ).

[Olyy]

Sanderson saying it was basically done, and then a week later saying he's been banned from talking about signings sounds like we've burned a bridge - agent increased contract amount after knowing we're so keen? Kpoku not appreciating it being discussed in the press before Is are dotted and Ts crossed, and putting him on the shitlist at his club?

[45jumper]

I've begun to think an experienced Head Coach for next season could be one of the most important signings we could make. Joe Ford has been promoted because of Axe's 'promote from within' but he's vastly inexperienced - we're in dire need of a strong voice in the coaches group: especially now McGuigan's split loyalties have seen our defence disintegrate.

[RinTin]

Just to add to the doom and gloom, Fissler has us possibly losing out on the Kpoku transfer
( but it is Fissler reporting on RugbyPass ).

Exactly my worry - Toulon had that 23 year old second of theirs exit his contract the week after Kpoku joined. They are in the market for someone exactly like Junior.

So neither Kpoku it is then. Jonny Gray?? Rumours of his CV floating around Prem clubs a few months ago.

[RinTin]

Lozowski confirmed. Tidy signing. Very much fills the RDP gap as a useful 10 option.

[Alex]

Great signing, hard act to fill with losing RDP though!

[Surbiton_Shark]

After watching the opening 6 nations game last night (the adverts....)

I would not mind signing that French forward who played 5 but also plays 8....my lord - looked great - Mickaël Guillard, hadn't really noticed him before

[Yareet]

Not next season but 2028/9 as a mentor/squad player?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 8p7n315p4o

[RinTin]

From Fissler:

"Sale Sharks have gone back into the transfer market looking for a lock after their move for former England under-20 international Junior Kpoku fell through, with the versatile loose forward set to stay in Toulon next season.

The Sharks have been very active in the transfer market, looking to improve their squad for next season, with the signatures of Tomas Francis, Nicky Smith, Alex Lozowski and Joe Marchant already secured.

They have drawn up a shortlist of players they will now look to bring to the club to bolster their ranks, and are starting to work their way through it."

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/fissler- ... ug-of-war/

So much for him wanting to represent England....

[Olyy]

Shortlist must be incredibly short considering how many names we've already had to cross off it