After six years in the international wilderness, Sale’s Danny Cipriani appeared to be on the road to redemption after being selected by England head coach Stuart Lancaster for the tour of New Zealand in June before his autumn internationals omission

More than 7,000 youngsters will participate over the course of the season in search of a spot in the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup ‘Parade of Champions’ during half-time of the Aviva Premiership Rugby Final.

Injuries to Geoff Parling and Ed Slater mean that New Zealand born Paterson could be picked by Stuart Lancaster ahead of the Autumn internationals, with the squad announcement due later this week

Sale Sharks youngster Cameron Neild believes the squad are looking ‘onwards and upwards’ after a less than impressive start to the season.

The event this weekend will be hosted by Sale at Manchester Rugby Club in Stockport – launched during the 2008-09 season, the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup is the first national grassroots tournament officiated by Premiership Rugby

Sale travel to leaders Northampton on Saturday, where they have not won for over eight years

Sale will be keen to respond with their second home victory in the league after last week’s dismal performance away at Saracens.

Sale have yet to record a win this season after suffering narrow defeats to Bath and Gloucester, leaving them tenth in the Aviva Premiership with just two bonus points.

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.

Former Sale Sharks full-back Ben Foden is on the hunt for a place in England’s squad for their summer tour to New Zealand and the Rugby World Cup next year.

Departing forward James Gaskell is looking to end the season on a high by helping to extend Sale Sharks’ current record-breaking run by beating London Irish on Saturday