Sale Sharks have picked the kind of team that makes a statement before a ball is even kicked. Tom Curry and Ben Curry are in the same starting side for the first time since June 2025, and that matters because this is not some sentimental selection gimmick. It is a hard-nosed team choice ahead of a Northern derby at Kingston Park, with Sale Sharks chasing a route into the top four and Newcastle Red Bulls trying to drag themselves back into the conversation after a bruising weekend.
There is a serious edge to this one. Newcastle Red Bulls were beaten 47-14 by the Scarlets in the Challenge Cup last weekend, while Sale Sharks also took a hit, going down 47-27 to Glasgow Warriors in the Champions Cup. So both sides arrive with something to prove, but Sale have at least responded by naming a starting XV that feels loaded with intent rather than excuses. Alex Sanderson has made four changes, and the headline is obvious: the Curry brothers are back together from the outset.
A selection that says Sale mean business
It is easy to get carried away by the romance of Tom Curry and Ben Curry in the same line-up, but this is really about control. Sale need to reset after that defeat to Glasgow Warriors, and putting both Currys out there is a reminder of how much grunt, tempo and bite they can bring when the stakes rise. That is especially relevant in a match where Newcastle Red Bulls could leapfrog Sale with a win, and Sale could climb into the top four with one of their own.
In other words, this is not a team selection for the faint-hearted. It is the kind of call that suggests Alex Sanderson is looking for a sharper edge, a more relentless collision game, and a side that can dominate the ugly parts of a derby. That is what the better teams do when pressure starts to tighten: they stop asking polite questions and start forcing the issue.
The broader picture is getting interesting
There is also a bigger backdrop to Friday’s meeting. Christian Wade was closing in on the all-time PREM try-scoring record at the time of writing, which adds another layer of intrigue to a league weekend already carrying proper tension. But for Sale, the central story is not a milestone chase. It is the return of Tom Curry and Ben Curry together in the starting XV for the first time since June 2025.
That is the sort of detail that can change the feel of a contest before kick-off. Sale have not just named a team; they have named a challenge. Now they have to make it count at Kingston Park.
