Player Development Group

Player Development Group (PDG)

Identifying future Sharks across the North West (U14–U16)

The Player Development Group (PDG) is the first stage of the Sale Sharks Academy pathway. It is designed to identify and develop players with the potential to progress towards the professional game.

The programme focuses on individual development, not short-term performance. Players selected are not always the most dominant in their age group — they are those who show behaviours that can translate to higher levels of rugby.

The Nomination Process

Players are nominated by clubs or schools

Nominated players are invited to assessment sessions at our PDG hubs

Assessments are designed to evaluate game behaviours, decision-making, and skill execution

Further details can be found here: https://www.salesharks.com/academy-1/developing-player-programme/guidance-and-nomination-process/

Successful players are then selected into the PDG programme.

The Programme

Selected players follow a curriculum designed by the Sale Sharks Academy, with a focus on:

• Core skill development

• Decision-making in game contexts

• Athletic development

Sessions are delivered twice a month through a combination of:

• Skill zones

• Small-sided games

• Game-based learning aligned to Sharks DNA

Players will also access:

• Online based support on Nutrition, S&C and Psychology

• Bi-monthly gym sessions (U16 Groups)

• U15 inter-team festivals

• U16 competitive fixtures

• Total annual contact time is approximately 20–30+ hours.

PDG Hub Locations

West Cheshire – Chester RFC, CH3 7DB

Central Cheshire – Lymm RFC, WA13 0AS

Greater Manchester – Platt Lane Sports Complex, M14 7UU

Merseyside – Ruskin Sports Village, WA10 6RP

North Lancashire – Preston Grasshoppers RFC, PR4 0AP

Sale Sharks – Carrington Training Centre, M31 4AB

Coach on the Sale Sharks Pathway

We are always looking for volunteer coaches to support the Player Development Group (PDG) — the first stage of the Sale Sharks Academy pathway.

This is an opportunity to coach within a high-performance development environment, working with players identified for their long-term potential.

Sessions are game-based, aligned to Sharks DNA, and focused on developing decision-making, skill execution, and game understanding.

We welcome coaches who want to:

• Develop players, not just run sessions

• Improve their own coaching practice

• Engage with feedback and new ideas

• Contribute to a high-performance environment

You do not need to be an expert, but you must be willing to learn, adapt, and coach what matters in the game.

Requirements

To be involved in the PDG, coaches must:

• Hold (or be working towards) an England Rugby Coaching Award (ERCA)

• Hold a valid DBS check

• Be able to commit to regular sessions

• Align with the Sharks DNA approach

This is a development opportunity for coaches as well as players, with exposure to academy principles, session design, and talent identification.

If you want to be part of the pathway and develop your coaching in a more demanding environment, we’d like to hear from you. Contact – jack.leech@salesharks.com