Sale Sharks have been boosted by the return of England flanker Ben Curry, who will captain the side against Newcastle Falcons on Friday in the Gallagher Premiership. Curry’s comeback follows a breakthrough Six Nations campaign, where he impressed with his outstanding performances for England.
The 25-year-old Curry was instrumental in England’s successes during the tournament, starting against Ireland and Wales, and making impactful contributions from the bench against France, Scotland, and Italy. His impressive displays have launched him into British and Irish Lions contention.
Curry’s return to domestic action will see him lead Sale Sharks against bottom-of-the-league Newcastle Falcons. Although he won’t be joined by his brother Tom, he will play alongside England teammates George Ford and Tom Roebuck. Ford, who had limited game time during the Six Nations, is expected to make a significant impact, while Roebuck will look to build on his try-scoring return to the England set-up.
The match against Newcastle Falcons presents an opportunity for Sale Sharks to maintain their push for the play-offs. A victory for the hosts, on the other hand, would reduce the gap between them and Exeter Chiefs at the bottom of the table.
Sale Sharks’ director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, praised Curry’s performances during the Six Nations, stating that the flanker’s excellence is no longer a “secret.” Sanderson believes that Curry’s displays have elevated him to a new level, and he is eager to see the flanker bring his international form to the domestic stage.
The return of Curry is a significant boost to Sale Sharks, who will be looking to capitalize on their momentum in the Gallagher Premiership. With Curry leading the charge, Sale Sharks will be confident of securing a victory against Newcastle Falcons and maintaining their push for the play-offs.
*Teams:*
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14 Oli Spencer, 13 Sammy Arnold, 12 Max Clark, 11 Alex Hearle, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Sam Stuart; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Murray McCallum, 4 Philip van der Walt, 5 Kiran McDonald, 6 Freddie Lockwood, 7 Cameron Neild, 8 Callum Chick (c)
Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Rekeiti Ma’asi White, 12 Rob du Preez, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr, 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 Tadgh McElroy, 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4 Ben Bamber, 5 Jonny Hill, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 7 Ben Curry (c), 8 JL du Preez