Sale Sharks have parted ways with Marco Bortolami

Sale Sharks have parted ways with head coach Marco Bortolami – RugbyPass understands.

It appears that Sale’s dramatic 35-14 Investec Champions Cup away victory over Clermont carried an extra layer of intrigue, with the on-field response coming against a backdrop of quiet upheaval behind the scenes.

The decision, which happened on Friday, brings a sudden end to the Italian’s brief spell at the club.

The ex-Italy lock only signed with Sale last June. He arrived from URC side Benetton Treviso earlier in the year, leaving that side his role with the Italian club prior to the end of their season.

Working under DoR  Alex Sanderson, Sale’s Gallagher PREM form has failed to impress this term. The Greater Manchester-based side is currently sitting seventh on the table.

The exact reasons for the split are not yet clear, although it is understood that backroom staff chemistry was relatively strained.

His departure has brought the curtain down on a short-lived appointment and now opens the door for a re-shuffling of Sale’s coaching ticket.

Bortolami did bring significant experience to Sale, both as a former international and as a coach.

The 45-year-old won more than 100 caps for Italy during a distinguished playing career and remains his country’s youngest ever captain, having been handed the role at just 22.

At club level, Bortolami began his professional career with Padova before moving to Narbonne in France. He joined Gloucester in 2006, spending four seasons at Kingsholm, before returning to Italy in 2010 with Aironi and later finishing his playing career at Zebre.

The Italian’s departure didn’t stop the Sharks from bagging an impressive win over Clermont at Stade Marcel-Michelin. They built a 20-7 half-time lead through tries from Tom O’Flaherty, Marius Louw and Arron Reed. Clermont threatened after Lucas Zamoa’s score, but Sale pulled clear with late tries from Joe Bedlow and Alex Wills.