PREM Rugby: Team News as Sale Sharks vs Gloucester kick-offs new season on Thursday

England stars Bevan Rodd, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Ben Curry, George Ford, Tom Roebuck and Joe Carpenter all start, while new club captain Ernst van Rhyn leads the team for the first time.

Sale’s front row sees England props Rodd and Opoku-Fordjour either side of new signing Nathan Jibulu, who makes his Premiership debut. Van Rhyn partners Ben Bamber in the second row, with Jacques Vermeulen, Curry and Sam Dugdale completing a formidable back row.

Gus Warr and George Ford link up at half-back, outside backs Rekeiti-Ma’asi-White and Rob du Preez provide centre power, while Tom O’Flaherty, Roebuck and Carpenter make up a potent back three. Academy graduates Dom Hanson and Tristan Woodman are named among the replacements alongside Arron Reed and fellow homegrown forwards Ethan Caine, Simon McIntyre, WillGriff John, Hyron Andrews and Tom Burrow.

Gloucester make the trip with a mix of experience and debutants. Club captain Tomos Williams returns from injury at scrum-half, partnered by new signing Ross Byrne. Seb Atkinson and Max Llewellyn line up in midfield, with Ollie Thorley, Ben Loader and Charlie Atkinson completing the back three.

Harrison Bellamy makes his first Premiership start in the front row alongside Jack Innard and Afolabi Fasogbon, with Arthur Clark and Matias Alemanno in the second row and Freddie Thomas, James Venter and Jack Clement completing the pack. Kealan Freeman-Price, debutant Josiah Edwards-Giraud and Archie McArthur provide cover from the bench.

Sale’s league-leading defence and home form will be tested by a Gloucester side eager to kickstart their season on the road. With both teams featuring a blend of youth and experience, the opener promises intensity and a fast start to the new campaign.

Starting XV: 15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Nathan Jibulu, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ernst van Rhyn ©, 5. Ben Bamber, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Ben Curry, 8. Sam Dugdale.

Replacements: 16. Ethan Caine, 17. Simon McIntyre, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Tom Burrow, 21. Dom Hanson, 22. Arron Reed, 23. Tristan Woodman.

Starting XV: 1. Harrison Bellamy, 2. Jack Innard, 3. Afolabi Fasogbon, 4. Arthur Clark (VC), 5. Matias Alemanno, 6. Freddie Thomas, 7. James Venter*, 8. Jack Clement, 9. Tomos Williams (C), 10. Ross Byrne*, 11. Ollie Thorley, 12. Seb Atkinson (VC), 13. Max Llewellyn, 14. Ben Loader, 15. Charlie Atkinson

Replacements: 16. Kealan Freeman-Price*, 17. Archie McArthur*, 18. Kirill Gotovtsev, 19. Cam Jordan, 20. Lewis Ludlow, 21. Caolan Englefield, 22. Will Joseph, 23. Josiah Edwards-Giraud*