Skipper Strauss boxes clever

WORKOUTS in the boxing ring have helped pay handsome dividends for Josh Strauss with the Sale Sharks’ back-row powerhouse making a welcome return to action in tonight’s Anglo-Welsh Cup trip to Scarlets.

The Scotland international suffered a tear of the AC joint at the top of his shoulder during the Sharks’ Premiership trip to Gloucester in late December and has been sidelined since.

However, some intensive rehabilitation work – including donning some boxing gloves – has helped Strauss make a quicker-thanexpected comeback, with the Scot skippering an exciting-looking side at Parc y Scarlets as the Sharks look to return to winning ways ahead of next week’s resumption of league action at London Irish.

“Friday is probably more of a fitness stepping stone for me looking ahead to the return to the Premiership,” Strauss told the Sale Sharks website.

“Last week I actually did a bit of boxing around it to get a bit of impact around the area and the muscles. I haven’t done it for ages so my back muscles were gone for the next couple of days but it was interesting – especially as I did it with Ben Curry and he’s not a very good boxer!”

Strauss has been entrusted with the captaincy for tonight’s match with the Sharks blending a powerfullooking pack with a youthful all-English back-line where teenagers Cam Redpath and Luke James will link-up in midfield.