Summer recruits Jacques Vermeulen and Nathan Jibulu will make their competitive Sharks debuts on Saturday against Bristol Bears as Alex Sanderson names a strong side for the first Prem Cup fixture of the 2025/26 season.
Ollie Davies will line up at full-back against Pat Lam’s side, while Ernst van Rhyn and Dan du Preez start after missing the friendly defeat at home to Connacht.
Props Si McIntyre and James Harper start in the front row either side of former Harlequins man Jibulu, with the towering presence of van Rhyn and Ben Bamber behind them in the second row.
Vermeulen starts at blindside flanker with Sam Dugdale at openside and the returning du Preez at number 8.
Scrum-half Nye Thomas will have Tom Curtis alongside him at fly-half. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White will start at inside centre with the ever-present skipper du Preez in the number 13 shirt.
Wingers Obi Ene and Tom O’Flaherty start once again after impressing against Connacht, but this time they’ll have England U20s star Davies for company in the back three.
The Sharks bench is packed with homegrown talent with Ethan Caine, Tumy Onasanya and Patreece Bell offering front row cover. Hyron Andrews, Jos Gilmore and Tristan Woodman are the rest of the forwards replacements.
Scrum-half Dom Hanson and the versatile Sam Bedlow are the backs on the bench.
Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15.Ollie Davies, 14. Tom O’Flaherty, 13. Rob du Preez ©, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Obi Ene, 10. Tom Curtis 9. Nye Thomas; 1. Simon McIntyre, 2. Nathan Jibulu, 3. James Harper, 4. Ernst van Rhyn, 5. Ben Bamber, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Dan du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. Patreece Bell, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Jos Gilmore, 21. Dom Hanson, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Tristan Woodman.
