In the inflatable dome outside Sale Sharks’ AJ Bell Stadium, year-seven Stanley High School pupil Owen Barnes caught more paper tickets in 30 seconds than anyone else to win two tickets to the Aviva Premiership Rugby Final on May 30.

Oldham’s Kyle Eastmond has a huge international advantage when it comes to his World Cup prospects and that’s his club relationship at Bath with England’s player of the Six Nations Jonathan Joseph, according to midfield rival Manu Tuilagi.

Sale remain in seventh and nine points of the semi-final places after failing to claim even a losing bonus point in Round 17 in their 12-3 loss to Bath.

Sale Sharks and England’s Danny Cipriani has lauded his club’s tight squad and welcoming environment after signing a two-year deal to stay with the Manchester side.

Sale go to last year’s Heineken Cup and Celtic Pro 12 semi-finalists Munster this weekend still searching for their first victory in Pool A of the European Rugby Champions Cup.

Sale Sharks fly-half Cipriani has not featured for England since the summer tests with New Zealand and faces a stern battle for the No.10 jersey with Owen Farrell, George Ford and Stephen Myler all ahead of him in the pecking order.

Manchester United and City have notably built up squads containing sportsmen from abroad, but rugby union team Sale Sharks also have a special one of their own in Russian Ostrikov.

Sale, without an away win all season, go into round eight looking to get back on track after throwing away leads in two of their last five matches in all competitions.

Sale will be looking to secure their first win of the season as they travel to a Gloucester side smarting from their heaviest Premiership defeat to Northampton last time out.

The Sharks will be hoping to build upon last season’s sixth-place finish, considered by many to be something of an over-achievement having narrowly avoided relegation the year before, as they take on Bath on Saturday.

Pennell was one of the success stories of last season in the Aviva Premiership, enjoying a memorable campaign despite Worcester’s relegation, before also winning his first international cap for England in New Zealand in the summer.