TEAM NEWS | GLOUCESTER v SHARKS

Full-back Joe Carpenter returns to the Sharks side while Hyron Andrews makes his first start since February as Alex Sanderson makes three changes to his side for the trip to Kingsholm to face Gloucester (live on TNT Sports, Friday 8th May, KO: 7.45pm).

EXETER, ENGLAND – MARCH 21: Joe Carpenter of Sale Sharks runs with the ball during the Gallagher PREM match between Exeter Chiefs and Sale Sharks at Sandy Park on March 21, 2026 in Exeter, England. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images for Sale Sharks)

Luke James returns to a Sharks matchday squad for the first time since the Prem Rugby Cup clash between these two sides in February.

After impressing against Quins, Academy hooker Alfie Longstaff starts again in a front row that includes Asher Opoku-Fordjour and England U20s loosehead Ralph McEachran.

There’s a change in the second row as Andrews comes in to partner Ben Bamber. That means skipper Ernst van Rhyn switches to the back-row to join Jacques Vermeulen and Sam Dugdale.

SALFORD, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 25: Hyron Andrews of Sale Sharks breaks clear to score his team’s fourth try during the Gallagher PREM match between Sale Sharks and Gloucester Rugby at CorpAcq Stadium on September 25, 2025 in Salford, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Gus Warr starts again at scrum-half with George Ford at fly-half and outside them, Rekeiti Ma’asi-White is joined in the centres by Louw.

With Carpenter coming back into his familiar full-back spot, Arron Reed drops to the bench and Tom O’Flaherty switches to the left wing while Tom Roebuck starts on the right.

On the bench, Academy hooker Wills Austin, who made his first Gallagher PREM appearance at The Stoop, is joined by props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper. Tristan Woodman and Seb Kelly are the other forwards named as replacements as Alex opts for a 5-3 split.

Dom Hanson, fit-again Luke James and Reed make up the rest of the bench.

SALFORD, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 28: Luke James of Sale Sharks cuts through the defense to score a try during the Gallagher PREM match between Sale Sharks and Exeter Chiefs at CorpAcq Stadium on November 28, 2025 in Salford, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images for Sale Sharks)

Starting XV:

15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Marius Louw, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Ralph McEachran, 2. Alfie Longstaff, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Hyron Andrews, 5. Ben Bamber, 6. Ernst van Rhyn ©, 7. Jacques Vermeulen, 8. Sam Dugdale.

Replacements:

16. Wills Austin, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Tristan Woodman 20. Seb Kelly, 21. Dom Hanson, 22. Luke James, 23. Arron Reed.

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