Gallagher PREM 2026/27 squads rated: Sale Sharks

After falling short of the play-offs, which had been the benchmark for the club since Alex Sanderson’s arrival in January 2021, the Sharks need to deliver a top-four finish, if not better, this time around, to justify the investment made in the squad.

The signing of Courtney Lawes from France and Nicky Smith from Leicester were statements of intent by the Sharks owners, while the arrival of England internationals Joe Marchant and Alex Lozowski has added considerable experience to the backline. Sanderson is a man of integrity and knows there can’t be any excuses for failure this time around.

Sale only won five of their 18 league games last season, and realistically they’ll need to more than double that tally if they’re going to be in the end-of-season mix for silverware.

Defensively, they were found wanting in 2025/26, conceding a third more points than the previous campaign. While the overall scoring trend in the PREM is up on this front, shipping 602 points in 18 matches in not championship-winning form.

After a short period back at the club as a consultant towards the end of last season, Mike Forshaw is now the full-time defence coach and an improvement in this area is expected. Lawes’ competitiveness will demand it.

Other than the luckless Luke James (hamstring), Sale have a clean bill of health and will targeting a fast start. Back-to-back wins eluded them at any stage of last season, and while winning at Saracens in round two is a tough ask, they’ll be banking on at least getting wins against Bristol and Harlequins from their first two home games.

Here’s our take on the depth of the Sharks’ squad:

Loose-head prop: Ralph McEachran, Simon McIntyre, Bevan Rodd, Nicky Smith, Oli Spencer
Nicky Smith was arguably the league’s outstanding loose-head, along with Ellis Genge, in 2025/26, and a fit Bevan Rodd is right up there, too, so Sale are blessed in this area. With all his experience, Simon McIntyre is a pretty tidy back-up option. 9/10

Hooker: Wills Austin, Ethan Caine, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Nathan Jibulu, Alfie Longstaff
Sale were found wanting when Luke Cowan-Dickie was either injured or away on England duty, and Nathan Jibulu was suspended. And it appears they might be overly reliant on those two again as they look to improve on an 83.59% lineout success rate (ranked 8th). 7/10

Tight-head prop: Patreece Bell, Cebo Dlamini, Tomas Francis, Lawrence Ogbonnaya, Asher Opoku-Fordjour (both sides), Tye Raymont.
Despite his advancing years, Tomas Francis for James Harper looks an upgrade, while Asher Opoku-Fordjour is set to cement his reputation as one of the best young props in the PREM. South African Cebo Dlamini has led a bit of a nomadic existence, and even had a spell in Wales with the Dragons, but he’ll be hoping to have found a home from home at the Sharks, while Patreece Bell and Tye Raymont saw game time last season and will be aiming to kick on. 7/10

Second row: Ben Bamber, Tom Burrow, Patrick Hogg, Dylan Hodkinson, JJ Scheepers, Christ Tshiunza, Ernst van Rhyn (c)
If Christ Tshiunza can maintain the form he showed for Exeter towards the end of last season and avoid yet another foot injury, Nicky Smith and Tomas Francis might not be the only Welsh internationals to make a positive impression in Salford. Tshiunza’s athleticism complements the grit and physicality of Ben Bamber, and that’s not forgetting club captain and tackle machine, Ernst van Rhyn. The Sharks stole less opposition ball at the lineout than any other team in 2025/26, so that’s a work-on for this season. 7.5/10

Back row: Will Bennett, Charlie Bray, Elia Canakaivata, Ben Curry, Tom Curry, Sam Dugdale, Jos Gilmore, Seb Kelly, Courtney Lawes, Reuben Logan, Jacques Vermeulen, Tristan Woodman, Taotafa Faosilipa
The availability of the Curry twins has long been the key to the Sharks’ depth in the back row. But with Courtney Lawes ageing like a fine wine, Jacques Vermeulen still knocking people about, Sam Dugdale getting better with every season, and Reuben Logan one to watch, the reliance on them to carry the fight to the opposition isn’t quite as heavy as it once was. If both are fit for the whole season, Alex Sanderson will have some serious selection headaches. And let’s not forget the arrival of Fijian Drua No.8, Elia Canakaivata, which should compensate for the loss of Dan du Preez to Bath. 9.5/10

Scrum-half: Will Bayston, Dom Hanson, Xavier Roe, Gus Warr
A potential area of weakness, depending on how well All Blacks XV Xavier Roe settles. Gus Warr, twice capped by Scotland in 2024, is a good box-kicking scrum-half but tends to play too much by numbers. Still only 27, Roe is more of a sniper who has a try-scorer’s instinct, so he could be just what Sale need. 7/10

Fly-half: Ollie Davies, George Ford, Alex Lozowski
George Ford divides opinion, mainly due to his fondness for putting boot to ball, but there is no disputing he possesses one one of the best tactical brains around and Sale are lucky to call him their 10. Alex Lozowski begun his pro career up north at Leeds and will hope to end it on a high across the Pennines. He had very little rugby last season due to injury and hasn’t taken a shot at goal in a competitive match since 2024/25, when his success rate was only 62%, which is a concern if Ford is needed by England. 7/10

Centre: Marius Louw, Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, Joe Marchant, Osian Roberts, Toby Wilson
Joe Marchant has been brought in to add some pace, guile and class to a midfield that punches hard but lacks artistry. With Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade failing to settle the srgument of who’s England’s best option at 13, Marchant will be hungry to prove that, at 30, he still still has a good few years left in him on the international stage now that he is back in the PREM after an extended spell in France. 7/10

Wing: Sebi Krippner, Ponipate Loganimasi, Tom O’Flaherty, David Opoku-Fordjour, Arron Reed, Tom Roebuck, Alex Wills
Tom O’Flaherty enjoyed a fine season in 2025/26 and in Arron Reed and Tom Roebuck, Sale have two international quality finishers. Fijian Drua recruit Ponipate Loganimasi won’t leave anyone wondering what he’s all about, and has gas to burn, while Alex Wills showed some nice touches in the 13 games he got under his belt last season. 8/10

Full-back: Joe Carpenter, Luke James, Austin Keogh
Joe Carpenter is a class act but he missed 11 games last season due to injury, leaving Sale without a specialist full-back. With utility back Luke James currently sidelined, Sale will have to use one of their wings to fill in at 15 if the England A full-back picks up a knock, which is hardly ideal considering Sale beat the joint fewest defenders, along with Harlequins, last season, and need consistency of selection to make more of an impression in attack. University student Austin Keogh is the only other player listed as an out-and-out full-back. 6/10

OVERALL RATING: 75

Gallagher PREM ratings table

1. Northampton – 78
2. Bath – 76
3. Sale – 75
4. Exeter – 70
4. Harlequins – 70
6. Newcastle – 65.5

TRANSFERS

In: Joe Marchant (Stade Francais), Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers), Tomas Francis (Provence), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Ponepati Loganimasi (Fijian Drua), Elia Canakaivata (Fijian Drua), Cebo Diamini (Griquas), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs), Courtney Lawes (Brive), David Opoku-Fordjour (Coventry), JJ Scheepers (Pumas), Xavier Roe (Chiefs)

Out: Rob du Preez (Bayonne), Raffi Quirke (Newcastle Red Bulls), James Harper (Newcastle Red Bulls), Dan du Preez (Bath Rugby), Obi Ene (Newcastle Red Bulls), Rouban Birch (released), Joe Bedlow (released), Sam Bedlow (released), Frank Chatterton (released), Tom Curtis (released), Huw Davies (released), Tom Davis (released), WillGriff John (released), Tadgh McElroy (released), Jack Lightbown (released), Nye Thomas (released), Will Wootton (released), Albert Bradshaw (Leeds Tykes), Hyron Andrews (Lions), Tumy Onasanya (Coventry).