The tribulations of one of English rugby’s highest-profiled players, Manu Tuilagi, was rugby’s summer story; the termination of what had been his entire rugby life as a Leicester Tiger. Steve Diamond, the Sale Sharks director of rugby, will be hoping that his cut-price purchase can make an immediate impact on the gain line against Harlequins. The 2019-20 season is a sprint for the finishing line. Sale have surged their way into second place and are positioned for a semi-final play-off at home. The north has a paltry two titles to its name in the history of the English leagues, Sale and Newcastle Falcons the only winnersSale have struggled to create an identity in one of the world’s great football cities of Manchester.

Source: The Times August 13, 2020 15:56 UTC