All change: Sale Sharks announce David Seymour as new skipper

LEADERS: Redpath and Seymour

By Mancunian Matters staff

Sale Sharks have appointed David Seymour as captain for the new season.

Director of rugby Bryan Redpath has given the 27-year-old flanker the nod after being impressed with his performances last term.

Seymour has captained the side previously, filling in for Sam Tuitupou when the former All Black was unavailable.

The club have announced that Tuitupou will act as vice captain.

Redpath said: "From watching Sale last year I could see even before getting here you could see how committed David is. He's also a very smart rugby player and as flanker he's around some very key people in the game.

"Playing at seven he's always going to be around the contact area, he's always going to be around that first breakdown.We need someone in there who is going to be close to the referees and be able to give some feedback.

"He leads by example in most things he does and he's a great role model for both the other senior professionals and all of the younger guys at the club."

Seymour - who is about to embark on his fourth season at the club - admitted he was hugely honoured to follow in the footsteps of Tuitupou, James Gaskell, Dean Schofield and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe.

"It's a massive honour especially when you look at the strength of players we have in the squad," he said.

"It was a great honour and privilege to be asked to do the role and I am very excited about the prospect of captaining the side next season.

"It's a big responsibility and big role but I will just try to get out there and play the way I always have. Last season was a good one for the club and I felt I went well but that's been and gone and all the focus now is about the next nine months ahead of us.

"We're a young team and one that is still learning but I have every confidence in the guys we have in the squad."

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