Raffi Quirke and Arron Reed return to the Sharks XV, while Tom Burrow starts in the second row and Tom Curry switches to the number 8 shirt as Alex Sanderson makes six changes for the visit of Glasgow in the first pool stage game of the 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup (Friday 5th Dec, 8pm KO – LIVE on Premier Sports, BBC 5 Live).
Tickets are still available for this one – get yours here now!
There are also starts for Nathan Jibulu and WillGriff John while Ben Curry returns to the Sharks bench and there’s a first appearance for recent signing Gurshwin Wehr.
In the front row Welsh international prop John and hooker Jibulu are joined by Si McIntyre, who marked his 100th appearance for Sale by playing 80 minutes last weekend.
In the second-row, England U20s captain Burrow joins the ever-present Bamber and that means skipper Ernst van Rhyn switches to the back row where he teams up with Jacques Vermeulen and England star Curry.
It’s all change at half-back with Quirke teaming up with Rob du Preez, who starts at fly-half in the absence of George Ford.
Marius Louw replaces du Preez in the centres and he’ll start at 12 with Rekeiti Ma’asi-White moving to outside centre.
In the back three, Alex Wills and Tom O’Flaherty start once again on the wings and they’ll have the pace of Scotland’s Reed between them at full-back.
The Sharks bench is packed with talent with hooker Ethan Caine joined by replacement props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper. Hyron Andrews and Ben Curry will offer extra forward options from the bench.
Gus Warr, Ollie Davies and winger Wehr are the backs replacements.
Starting XV:
15. Arron Reed, 14. Tom O’Flaherty, 13. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 12. Marius Louw, 11. Alex Wills, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Raffi Quirke; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Nathan Jibulu, 3. WillGriff John, 4. Tom Burrow, 5. Ben Bamber, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Ernst van Rhyn ©, 8. Tom Curry.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Ben Curry, 21. Gus Warr, 22. Ollie Davies, 23. Gurshwin Wehr.
