SHARKS PATHWAY SUCCESS CONTINUES
Sale Sharks Women have confirmed the players who have joined their JAECOO Next Gen Cup squad from the different areas of the pathway.
The programme stretches across the Northwest and includes the North West Colleges programme, Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) and the U23’s Development Squad which all combine to hone the best talent across the region, feeding the Northern Force here at Sale.
The Development Programme provides four of the nine – Steph Atkinson (prop), Lotte Peirsegaele (prop), Georgina Holmes (flanker) and Honey Cockroft-Smith (centre) all join the squad while MMU students Harriet Thompson-Ogden (hooker), Maggie Graham (hooker/back row) and Fraya Boone (winger) are welcomed in. Boone shows how the pathway now provides a clear route to becoming a Shark – she was a product of North West Colleges and has chosen to study at our partner university while she trains at Carrington – evidence of the structure now in place for young players.
Finally, Hannah Kurtz (hooker) and Spencer Boldt (scrum half) have made the move across Sale for the Cup period – both previously playing for Sale FC in the Championship.
Charlie Beckett, Sale’s U23 Coach praised the programme as players from across the three areas step up throughout pre-season, saying ‘It speaks volumes of our three pathway branches that our intake into our Cup squad this year has tripled compared to last season. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of all the coaches, players and staff in those areas and now I am looking forward to the players stepping up into their new challenge’.
He went on to highlight Thompson-Ogden, who went to school in Oxford and was courted by clubs like Gloucester-Hartpury before opting for Sale and MMU, ‘After going to school down south, Harriet’s decision to study at our partner university – Manchester Metropolitan University, means she heads home, back up North and has excelled though pre-season’.
The group are an exciting prospect and Sharks fans can expect to see many feature in the upcoming JAECOO Next Gen Cup campaign, with tickets available now for the two home games at the Morson Stadium, here.
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