Nayacalevu shows he's going to be real deal
The Rugby Paper|September 08, 2024
THE past met the future at Sale Sharks’ ancestral home Heywood Road, where international star Waisea Nayacalevu scored a double to help claim the spoils for his new side against Newcastle Falcons in an end-toend battle that went right to the wire.
PETER MURDOCK
Nayacalevu shows he's going to be real deal

Twenty-five years ago, Sale first played as ‘the Sharks’ in a win against Wasps that featured a certain Steve Diamond playing for the Manchester side.

Now as the Falcons Director of Rugby, the match represented Diamond’s only chance to view his players against any opposition during pre-season, and with the start of the season rapidly approaching, he must have been encouraged with his side’s gutsy performance.

Sale head coach Alex Sanderson, who also played in that inaugural fixture, picked a virtually full-strength side, featuring the Curry brothers fresh from England duty, and Fijian captain Nayacalevu, perhaps the marquee signing across the Premiership.

This story is from the September 08, 2024 edition of The Rugby Paper.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 08, 2024 edition of The Rugby Paper.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE RUGBY PAPERView All
England show who's No.1
The Rugby Paper

England show who's No.1

ENGLAND women’s head coach John Mitchell says his side will take valuable lessons from the 24-12 win over world champions New Zealand as they build towards their WXV1 title defence.

time-read
1 min  |
September 15, 2024
Skivington: We're going to roll dice and go for it
The Rugby Paper

Skivington: We're going to roll dice and go for it

THE Cherry and Whites are the enigmas of the Premiership.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 15, 2024
Looking to go one step beyond this time around
The Rugby Paper

Looking to go one step beyond this time around

NE small step is what it will take for Bath to go one better than last season and secure the Premiership for the first time, but it would be one of the biggest taken by the club in the professional era.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 15, 2024
Four-try England make it 17 wins on the spin
The Rugby Paper

Four-try England make it 17 wins on the spin

ENGLAND women opened the Allianz Stadium era at HQ with a victory over New Zealand to make it 17 wins on the bounce before their WXV title defence.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 15, 2024
Time for Borthwick to prove his worth
The Rugby Paper

Time for Borthwick to prove his worth

HONEYMOON periods are not set in stone and in my estimation Steve Borthwick’s ends this summer. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still in good shape.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 15, 2024
Barrington ready to power up the Mob
The Rugby Paper

Barrington ready to power up the Mob

RICHARD Barrington has signed up to the Ampthill “Mob” reassured that he’ll still have a target on his back most weeks.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 15, 2024
Skivington keen to build identity
The Rugby Paper

Skivington keen to build identity

GLOUCESTER won their first trophy for nine years last season and reached the Challenge Cup final, but when George Skivington went on holiday the day after the campaign ended the words in his head were never again.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 15, 2024
Roebuck targets England success
The Rugby Paper

Roebuck targets England success

WINNING a maiden England Test cap to top the best season of his career will not be enough for Sale winger Tom Roebuck.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 15, 2024
Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving
The Rugby Paper

Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving

TOBY Booth admits telling his Ospreys players that he would be leaving at the end of the season was one of the hardest things he has had to do in his career.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 15, 2024
Stephens' debut try sees off old rivals
The Rugby Paper

Stephens' debut try sees off old rivals

DORKING had to dig deep in another tight game between two old rivals, with the lead changing hands twice and result in doubt right up to the final whistle.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 15, 2024