Nine of the North West’s brightest rugby talents will join the club’s Senior Academy next season
Sale Sharks have agreed deals with nine of the North’s brightest rugby talents to join the club’s Senior Academy from the start of the 2024/25 season.
All nine players will join on full-time contracts although one – winger Sebi Krippner – will combine his first year as a Shark with his final year of school after his family returned to the UK from Singapore.
Among the new signings are three from Greater Manchester, four who played their junior rugby in Cheshire and one from both Yorkshire and Merseyside.
Hooker Alfie Longstaff, tighthead prop Jack Lightbown, flankers Seb Kelly and Jos Gilmore, scrum-half Dom Hanson, fly-half Ollie Davies and centre Toby Wilson have all represented England at U18s level.
Hooker Tom Davis and Krippner, who started playing rugby at Randwick Rugby Club in Sydney, Australia, as well as Lightbown, Kelly, Gilmore, Hanson, Davies and Wilson, all came through the Sharks DPP system.
Seb Kelly is the younger brother of Leicester Tigers and England centre Dan Kelly, who also came through the academy system at Sale.
Sharks Academy Manager Fergus Mulchrone said: “There is so much talent in our region and it’s been tough for us to decide who to offer contracts to. We believe these nine players have the potential to become top-level Premiership rugby players but the hard work for them really starts now.
“All but one of the lads have been involved with the club’s DPP from an early age, but so much of their development has come as a result of the work done by their club or school. We have a really good relationship with clubs and schools right across our region and we’re incredibly grateful for the fantastic work done by their coaches.
“The vision for this club – from the owners and Alex Sanderson down – is to have a strong, northern core and the Academy is such an important part of making that vision a reality.
“In recent years lads like Tom Roebuck, Raffi Quirke, Ben Curry and Tom Curry have come through the Senior Academy and gone on to become Sharks regulars and receive international call-ups.
“That shows the opportunity that these lads have. Now it’s up us to work with them to help them realise their potential.”
Our 24/25 Senior Academy intake:
Dom Hanson
Position: Scrum-half
Club: Stockport Rugby Club
School: Stockport Grammar school
International honours: England U19 and U18
Alfie Longstaff
Position: Hooker
Club: Sandal/Morley
School: Rodillian Academy/Woodhouse Grove School
International honours: England U18 and 19
Jos Gilmore
Position: Blindside flanker
Club: Sandbach RUFC
School: Kirkham Grammar School
International honours: England U18
Toby Wilson
Position: Centre
Club: Macclesfield Rugby Club
School: Kings, Macclesfield
International honours: England U18
Tom Davis
Position: Hooker
Club: Firwood Waterloo RUFC
School: St Mary’s College, Crosby
International honours: N/A
Ollie Davies
Position: Fly-half
Club: Macclesfield Rugby Club
School: Kirkham Grammar School
International honours: England U18s
Jack Lightbown
Position: Tighthead prop
Club: Eccles RFC
School: Ladybridge High School
International honours: England U18
Sebi Krippner
Position: Winger
Club: Sandbach RUFC
School: Kirkham Grammar School
International honours: N/A
Seb Kelly
Position: Openside flanker
Club: Rochdale RUFC
School: Kirkham Grammar School
International honours: England U18
