"Always written off" - Sale boss Alex Sanderson addresses 'underdog' mindset for Toulouse clash

With defeats to both Glasgow Warriors and Saracens thoughout a hotly contested pool stages, the most decorated side in European club rugby history for once have the decked stacked against them. However, Sale Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson reveals how his side will not head to the South of France with an overconfident approach.

“I always loves going to Toulouse. You’re always the underdog; you’re always written off." Sanderson said. "I guess in this context of this week, for what they need, we’ll be there again. We’re not strangers to getting written off and we carry that mantle pretty well, so we are looking forward to going down there and getting stuck into them.”

For Sale, their Champions Cup campaign has been a mixed bag. An agonising defeat at home to the high flying Glasgow Warriors opened their account, before the Mancunian side picked up a solid away victory against Clermont before prevailing in the 'battle of the sharks' last week, against the HollywoodBets Sharks from Durban.

Having played against the French side frequently in recent years, Alex Sanderson is fully aware of the Galacticos that his side is facing. “Both years, we (Sale Sharks) were in it for the opening stages, and a lot of teams probably say this about Toulouse. In it for 60 minutes last year, we got a few things right but for a couple of tiny switch off moments, there is just no small moment in these kind of games.

"When you think you have them on the ropes, and have got them where you want them, they have this ability to adapt and innovate, and the skillset of individual players to get them out of really dark holes. When you feel like you should be in their 22, you’re under your sticks.”

With the 2025/26 rugby calendar entering a so called “silly season”, in terms of transfer embargos and contract situations, players have announced they are leaving, staying and joining Sanderson’s side. England scrum half and academy product Raffi Quirke has announced this week that he is off to the northeast to ply his trade at Newcastle Red Bulls.

On the positive for the club, another academy graduate and utility back Luke James put pen to paper keeping him in M30 until 2029, something that Sanderson is really pleased with. “It’s great, isn’t it! Especially given the inconsistencies in his playing time over the last two or three years through injury, you can associate maybe the things that aren’t in your control with the organisation you’re at. He’s committed. He’s such a good player all across the back line, almost to his detriment really but invariably when he’s fit, he features in our squad.”

Wales tight-head Tomas Francis has also put pen to paper, to join the Sharks and reunite with compatriot Nicky Smith at the start of the 2026 season. Francis is an added asset Sanderson is looking forward to having in his ranks. “Huge isn’t he! An 80-capper!” Sanderson exclaimed, “Having had to compete against him for years (during his time at Exeter) I thought who is this, as he’s quite outspoken.

"But, having got on the phone to him, I was blown away with the character he was, the ambition he has, the drive, what he sees in us as a team and where he thinks he can help us. He's in the twilight end of his career, [and he wants] to get to another world cup.”

With the 2026 Guinness Men's Six Nations around the corner, England hopeful Asher Opoku-Fordjour has added himself to the long line of injured tight-heads that Steve Borthwick has to contend with, as the 21-year-old has picked up a shoulder injury which requires an operation.

However, coaches from the England set up “have had an omnipresence around the club” as they are keeping eyes on some of the boys which has “raised the standard knowing there is eyes watching.”However, for Scotland, there is “interest” around duo Arron Reed and Gus Warr.