Sale Sharks are delighted to confirm that Mike Forshaw will return to the club as interim defence coach for this season’s two Prem Rugby Cup periods.
Forshaw, 55, spent ten years at Sale before leaving in 2023 to take up an opportunity with the Welsh national team.
He left Wales in July to join Geoff Parling’s coaching team at Leicester Tigers, but left two months later for personal reasons.
With Byron McGuigan away with England for the Autumn Nations Series, ‘Forsh’ will now return to Sale to lead the defence, starting with the build-up to Sunday’s Prem Rugby Cup clash with Gloucester.
He will return in the new year when the competition resumes at the end of January 2026.
Mike said: “Leicester was a really exciting opportunity but my wife was unwell and undergoing treatment and I didn’t feel like I could give it my full commitment.
“I had five or six weeks at home and then had a phone call from Al asking if I fancied coming in and helping out while Byron was away with England.
“With the familiarity I have with the club, It seemed like a really good fit to get back on the training field a few days a week but spend plenty of time at home as well.
“The club seems busier but as soon as I walked in it felt like home. There are loads of familiar faces among the players and coaches and it’s been great to catch up with them all.
“I’m aligned with how this club operates defensively and I’m excited to add my voice to see if we can give these young lads confidence and give them something to go after.
“I want players to value not having the ball. You have to be excited about getting it back and if you’re not, then you’re in the wrong game. If you’re in a Sale Sharks shirt you have to love defending.
“The biggest challenge is trying to learn all the names!”
Sharks Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson said: “Sometimes the best things in life come off the back of really difficult circumstances. Forsh’s wife was unwell and he didn’t feel that he could commit to the commute down to Leicester and when I heard about that, my first question to him was ‘how are you?’ because that always comes first.
“Then on the back of Byron joining up with England, it felt like there was an opportunity for us to help him out, and for him to help us out.
“He can keep his eye in the game and spend time with people he knows and loves, and we get a top quality, international defence coach while Byron is away.
“It’s really important for Forsh to be close to his wife. He left Leicester for the right reasons and it just so happens that it’s worked out that we can help each other out.”
