Hill is here as we prepare for return of rugby
THE start of July in rugby is typically a period where new faces arrive at training grounds for pre-season, and all talk is about the campaign ahead as clubs set their targets for the coming season.
But in these strange times, Sale Sharks still have everything to play for in the 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership, sitting in second with nine games to play and a place in the Premiership Rugby Cup final.
Despite the disruption Covid-19 has caused, one thing that hasn’t changed is player contracts, meaning that as of July 1 we welcomed our latest signing from Exeter Chiefs, Sam Hill.
Sam was a popular figure at Chiefs as a strong and powerful centre, and I think he’s going to be a great fit here.
Along with all of our current squad, he arrived at Carrington on Wednesday looking fit and ready to go, and we can’t wait to see him in action soon.
We’ve also said goodbye to some players, with Rob Webber moving on after four years of service for Sharks. He’s now retiring and taking up a coaching role with the Jersey Reds. As a talented and experienced player, it’s brilliant to see that he’s staying in the game as a coach.
We also saw Ciaran Booth leave to join Connacht Rugby, Joe Jones move to Doncaster Knights, and Teddy Leatherbarrow and James Williams depart upon the end of their contracts.
Players coming and going is part and parcel of the game at this time of the year, so although it’s always tough to lose familiar faces, we wish them all well and thank them for their service, but we must keep building for the future.
On the subject of the game coming back, I know that we’re all eager to see Sharks play again as soon as possible, and the authorities are just as keen to get the Premiership up and running as soon as it’s safe to do so.
Their plan is still to see matches resume on the August 15, providing testing continues to show negative results, with games likely to be played home and away as normal.
There is also a real possibility of games being played behind closed doors, as we’ve seen in the Premier League. However, we know that the prospect of having a reduced number of spectators is also being explored.
This is in line with some pubs and bars being reopened last weekend, meaning the question is being asked whether clubs could open catering facilities and hospitality for a select number of fans.
Having even a small number of Sale fans at the AJ Bell for games would be fantastic, but this can only be done if it is safe, and this will ultimately be decided by the league and Government guidance.
For now, we can only continue to train hard within social distancing measures and keep looking ahead to August 15.
The way everyone at Sharks has reacted to this situation, from the players to management, and our partners and sponsors to our fans, has been brilliant.
I’m confident we’re in a great place to kick on strongly again when we do return to action.