The Season Starts Now!

Following a long quiet summer new came in over night that Sale have signed top flight All Black 10 Luke McAlister.

"Luke is one of the best young players in world rugby, and can play either 10, 12 or 13," said Sharks rugby director Philippe Saint-Andre.

"With Charlie Hodgson and Luke in the side, we have two fantastic playmakers, and his signing is exactly the signing I have been trying to make to help us become a dominant force in northern hemisphere rugby.

"It is great news for the supporters, who are only too well aware that our chances of competing for honours last season were badly hit when Charlie was injured.

"With Luke's signing, he can cover for Charlie when he is on England duty."

This is fantastic news for all Sale Supporters and add to the report of other signings which has been on salesupporters.co.uk for a while:

Next season Sale Supporters will be seeing a slightly different squd lining up, and there can be no doubt that favourites such as Andy Titterell and Barry Stewart will be sorley missed. Jason Robinson will be irreplaceable. The SSSC would like to extend a fond farewell to all the departing Sharks: Mark Taylor, Daniel Larrechea, Jason Robinson, Barry Stewart, Andy Titterell.

However, just as what goes up must come down, so those departures mean there will be some new Sharks: Julien Laharrague has extended his three month stay to a full contract for next year; and Scott Lawson and Rory Lamont join us. Two more recent signings are Rudi Keil, the South African Centre, and Benoit Bourrust, the French Prop Forward.

Back too are the European Challenge Cup and the World Cup, which will mean a host of Sharks will travel throughout Europe.

The Management at Edgeley Park are taking a closer interest in the SSSC, and in supporters in general and we feel that next season will be a much more pleasant experience for all concerned.

The season kicks off in just a few weeks now with a friendly against Manu Samoa, then the season proper and the world cup. At some point in October all of our international stars shoudl start to return from France.