CATCH UP WITH THE COACHES

The PREM Rugby Cup returns this Friday at the CorpAcq Stadium with the visit of Bristol Bears. And with many of the club’s biggest names on international duty, the competition provides a valuable opportunity for the club’s brightest young talents to step up and make their mark.  

Sharks’ transitional coaching team of Tom Gilchrist, Tommy Taylor and Jacob Ford have been handed the reins for this one and ahead of the game, we sat down with the trio to talk Jets programme, player development and what supporters can expect from the Sharks in the next two weeks. 

Q. The Jets are back with two wins from two so far. How does this programme support the step up to the first team for these PREM Rugby Cup games?  

TG: One of the biggest benefits of the Jets programme has been the opportunity to bring young Sale players together, allowing them to build cohesion and develop as a group while wearing the Sale jersey. Playing alongside one another, gaining exposure to stadium environments and experiencing the demands of first team rugby all help prepare the group for the step up to the Prem Rugby Cup. 

The games following the European game against Harlequins and ahead of the Friday night clash with Newcastle provided really valuable opportunities and gave the players experience of performing together in a first-team environment. 

TT: Having the lads playing together in a Sale shirt has been hugely beneficial. It means they are receiving the same messages and understanding the expectations ahead of the PREM Rugby Cup. The build-up has been very intentional, giving the group valuable time together and allowing them to develop an understanding of the model we want to play. As a result, the lads have been able to hit the ground running heading into Friday against Bristol. 

Q. Why is the Sale Sharks Jets programme important?  

JF: It’s important the Jets have their own identity, but we are all one club representing the northern foundations of the club, epitomising the values and ambitions that run throughout Sale Sharks. The programme provides players with a clear pathway to challenge for first-team selection, demonstrating that they can perform under pressure and deliver both technically and tactically at this level, which leans into our northern speed game model. 

TG: With younger players often heading out on loan and experiencing different game models and styles of rugby, the Jets programme means we can bring them back together under one system. It allows us as coaches to reinforce our playing principles and means the players remain aligned with the club’s wider approach as they continue their development. 

Q. What are the biggest takeaways from the Jets?  

TT: Having played for the Jets in my career, I think it’s so important for the club and the boys really embraced the opportunity. There were clear examples across both fixtures of performances and combinations that can be carried forward into the first team. Just as importantly, there has been a real openness from the senior squad, coaching staff and players towards the Jets programme, with everyone recognising what the group can bring to the wider squad.  

Q. How are you looking to build on this progress during the PREM Rugby Cup period?  

JF: It is going to be a step up in terms of intensity and pressure. We’ve been able to influence and manipulate certain outcomes so far in the Jets, but it is a different challenge when you are playing at Prem level.  The games have been quite open and free flowing with the challenge now being how the lads will respond when games become more broken up, stop start and difficult to control.  

We’ve spent the week discussing how we want to approach the game Friday night and impose our game model as Bristol will come up here with a plan. We want to start fast out the blocks and when there are moments of trouble, the challenge will be how the lads react straight away. 

Q. There are senior players in the squad who have come from the academy. How valuable is it having them in the squad, and what can the younger lads learn from their journey? 

TT: The senior lads have been brilliant with the younger players, throughout the Jets period and moving into this PREM Rugby Cup period. There has been a real mindset within the senior group to not only lead by example but also help the younger lads develop their own leadership skills which is important for us as in a few years’ time this young group of leaders will be leading the club.  

Off the field, those who haven’t been directly involved like Bevan, Si Mac and Flats, have stepped up to offer their support and share their experience. Their insight has been massively valuable for this group. 

TG: The senior lads have also spoken about how excited they are to get the opportunity to play alongside these younger players. The brand of rugby the Jets have been playing has been exciting to watch and has really aligned with the game model we’re looking to establish as a club. There’s a real enthusiasm around bringing the group together and seeing how the younger lads can complement the senior boys, ultimately strengthening what the first team looks like heading into Friday night. 

Q. How important is the PREM Rugby Cup for the development of the squad?  

TG: You need both the Jets programme and the PREM Cup as part of the player development pathway. They are natural steps for young talent who are on the edge of making that transition into the first team. It gives them the opportunity to build experience and gradually close the gap to the first team.  

Q. Who are you looking forward to seeing in action on Friday night? 

TT: Seb Kelly is someone I’m really looking forward to seeing. The intensity and standards he sets in training have been brilliant, and he’s performed well for the Jets over the past two weeks. He’s come back from a tough and demanding summer with England at the U20s World Cup and has settled back in brilliantly. He’s also become one of the core leaders within this group, which has been great to see. 

Marius Louw is another one. He’s been fantastic with the younger players, showing real commitment and investment in the group, particularly away from the pitch. It’s a great opportunity to see him get some game time this weekend, and I’m looking forward to seeing what he brings. 

JF: Dom Hanson and Ollie Davies are brilliant from a game-management perspective, with both able to take responsibility for driving the team forward. Dom has been involved with the first team over the past couple of weeks, playing the full 80 minutes against Newcastle and coming off the bench against Bath. This is a brilliant opportunity for him to start another game and show what he can do. 

Ollie has had fantastic game time out on loan over the past 10 weeks and has been a real force in training. Both have been brilliant in their roles as game drivers, and it’s another great opportunity for them to lead the team together. 

Billy Pasco is another player I’m really looking forward to seeing. He’s currently on trial, but he’s someone I’ve known about for a long time, going back to his school days. He’s a fantastic talent with huge potential and has been coached extremely well through the Northampton Saints pathway. 

TG: Ralph McEachran has been very close to getting his opportunity, and he thoroughly deserves his start this Friday. The physical growth we’ve seen in him over the past few weeks, and since round two of the PREM Cup away at Gloucester, has been fantastic. It’s been great to see the progress he’s made, and I’m looking forward to seeing him take his chance. 

Tom Burrow is another exciting one. He got his opportunity off the bench against Bath in the Prem last week, and to now have the chance to captain this side in the PREM Cup is brilliant. It’ll be interesting to see how he leads the group and performs in this role. These next two fixtures are also a great opportunity for players to put themselves firmly into the conversation for Gallagher PREM selection. 

Q. Has Tom Burrow always been a leader? 

TG: Having worked with Tom through the Yorkshire academy set-up, leadership is something we’ve always looked to develop within him. Being England U20s captain has also played a big part in that journey. He’s naturally grown into the role, embracing the responsibility of being a leader and captain as an important part of his development. It’s been great to see how he’s taken that on and continued to mature in the role. 

Q. Where does the PREM Cup sit in terms of the whole season? 

TT: These next two PREM Cup games present an important opportunity for the group. Coming off the back off a long block, this competition provides a refresh as well as an opportunity to develop and play together and for those who have had limited minutes to get some valuable game time. But we want to win and we’re expecting a big performance. 

JF: Regardless of the competition, the expectations remain the same when you pull on a Sale shirt. That applies both to performance on the pitch and how we represent the wider club. Those standards have been made clear to the group, and the lads have already shown a real understanding of this, which has been great to see. 

TG: Al has given us coaches this opportunity to run the team over the next couple of weeks. Being a new coaching team in the building, it gives us a great opportunity to put our processes into practise and grow together as a coaching team.