Jersey Reds have lined up another opponent from the Gallagher Premiership for their pre-season schedule.
Sale Sharks are to visit the Island for a pre-season training camp that will conclude with a match against the Reds at Stade Santander International on Friday September 3rd (kick-off 7.45pm).
It will be the first-ever encounter between the clubs, with the home side having finished sixth in last season’s Greene King IPA Championship while the visitors placed third in the Premiership.
“We’re delighted to have Sale Sharks lined up for our final match before league action commences,” said Jersey Reds Director of Rugby Harvey Biljon. “Sale have shown over recent seasons that they are one of the strongest sides in the Premiership and it will be a massive opportunity for our players to test themselves against a squad packed with talent.”
The Sharks have been a continuous presence in the English top flight since 1994 and were national champions in 2006, as well as winning the European Challenge Cup in 2002 and 2005. The club boasts a large contingent of internationals such as Tom and Ben Curry, Manu Tuilagi and Marlon Yarde of England and South Africans Faf de Klerk, Lood de Jager and Robert du Preez. Jersey Reds Head Coach Rob Webber (pictured below by Simon Hall) was with Sale for the final four years of his playing career before moving to the Island 12 months ago.
The encounter with the Sharks will take place a week after the Reds host another Premiership outfit, Leicester Tigers – the match at Stade Santander will kick off at 5pm on Friday August 27th. Ticket details for both pre-season games will be released shortly.
