European Cup record

Sale’s best effort in Europe’s elite club competition was a quarter-final appearance in the 2005/06 season when they were beaten 11-6 by Biarritz Olympique. They have qualified for the competition four times in the last ten years.

Last season

Last campaign, Sale finished fourth in a pool topped by eventual champions Exeter Chiefs. Their solitary win came in round two as they overcame La Rochelle 25-15.

Director of rugby

Steve Diamond – A Sale legend, the former hooker played over 350 games for the Sharks between 1989 and 2000. He coached England Saxons, Saracens and the Russian national side before returning to Sale in 2011 as Director of Sport. He later became Director of Rugby in 2012.

Key players

The promising Luke James has asserted himself as a regular in the Sale starting team alongside England international stars Tom Curry and Manu Tuilagi. Faf de Klerk and Lodewyk de Jager, who are World Cup winners with South Africa, will provide a winning mentality of the highest order. They have also added South African second row JP du Preez to what looks like a strong set of forwards this season.

Pool fixtures

Sale will be pitted against last season’s Challenge Cup finalists RC Toulon in Pool A – the French side were twice-victorious when the two sides last met in Europe in the pool stages of the 2016/17 competition. There will also be a first clash in Europe against Pro14 outfit Edinburgh.

Two-time Challenge Cup winners Sale Sharks are the next team on the agenda for our fact file of the Heineken Champions Cup Pool A.