Sale Sharks

Are they the Manchester United of rugby?

Not as long as they play at ramshackle Edgeley Park. The ground generates an effervescent atmosphere for their Friday-night home matches, but if they are to continue their rapid growth of the past few years, it needs a facelift. Brian Kennedy, the owner, will press ahead with development plans if crowd numbers continue to improve.

Can they win it again?

Surviving those international weekends will be the key once more. They will be helped greatly if France continue to ignore the charms of Sébastien Chabal. But then Magnus Lund could be wanted by England and Chris Jones will be there or thereabouts . . .

Where will they finish?

They’ll make the play-offs again. Key players such as Jason Robinson, above, will decide thereafter.

TRANSFERS

INS: Chris Bell (Leeds Tykes), John Bryant (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ben Evans (Cardiff Blues), Juan-Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Liceo Naval), Lee Thomas (Cardiff Blues), Andy Vilk (Northampton).

OUTS: Peter Anglesea (retired), Valentin Courrent (Toulouse), Ben Coutts (Queensland Reds), John Payne (released), Robert Todd (retired), Nick Wakley (released).

WHAT’S NEW AT EDGELEY PARK THIS SEASON?

A beer village has been introduced where fans can eat, drink and socialise with one another pre- and post-match.

HOW MANY SEASON TICKETS HAVE BEEN SOLD?

Sales are up again and the season will start with about 7,000. In comparison, in Brian Kennedy’s first season at the helm there were 500 season ticket-holders.

HOW ABOUT A TICKET?

Only 2,500 tickets are expected to be on sale for each game to watch the reigning cchampions at home and won’t be easy to come by, especially for matches with their majorin rivals and most local opponents.

ANY CELEBRITY SHARKS SUPPORTERS?

Ashes heroAndrew Flintoff, the Ashes hero known for his big hits on the cricket field, has been seen enjoying rugby’s equivalentsversions. Another Sale fan used to bringing the house down is Ted Robbins, the comedian and actor of Phoenix Nights fame.

SQUAD

BACKS: C Bell (nationality: Eng), J Bryant (Wales), D Blair (Sco), M Cueto (Eng), B Foden (Eng), S Hanley (Eng), C Hodgson (Eng), D Larrechea (Fr), S Martens (Tonga), C Mayor (Eng), O Ripol (Sp), J Robinson (Eng), E Seveali’i (Sam), M Taylor (Wales), L Thomas (Wales), A Vilk (Eng), R Wigglesworth (Eng).

FORWARDS: N Bonner-Evans (Wales), N Briggs (Eng), S Bruno (Fr), J Carter (Eng), S Chabal (Fr), C Day (Eng), B Evans (Wales), L Faure (Fr), I Fernandez Lobbe (Arg), J-M Fernandez Lobbe (Eng), M Lund (Eng), C Jones (Eng), D Schofield (Eng), A Sheridan (Eng), B Stewart (Sco), D Tait (Eng), A Titterrell (Eng), S Turner (Eng), J White (Scot).

ONE TO WATCH

BEN FODEN if he is given the chance, this could be the year that Foden proves his billing as the country’s brightest prospect at scrum half

FIXTURES

September

3 Leicester (a)

9 Northampton (h)

15 Worcester (a)

22 Saracens (h)

29 Newcastle (h)

October

7 Harlequins

15 London Irish (a)

20 Ospreys (a)

27 Calvisano (h)

November

3 London Wasps (h)

10 Bristol (a)

17 Newcastle Falcons (h)

24 Harlequins (h)

December

1 Llanelli (h)

10 Stade Français (a)

17 Stade Français (h)

22 Bath (a)

26 Newcastle Falcons (a)

January

1 Bristol (h)

6 Gloucester (h)

13 (tbc) Calvisano (a)

19 (tbc) Ospreys (h)

27 Gloucester (a)

February

18 London Wasps (a)

23 London Irish (h)

March

4 Saracens (a)

9 Worcester (h)

17 Northampton (a)

April

6 Leicester (h)

13 Bath (h)

28 Harlequins (a)

KEY

Premiership

EDF Anglo-Welsh Cup

Heineken Cup