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SALE SHARKS Director of Rugby

Alex Sanderson

ROLE Director of Rugby
TEAM Sale Sharks
IN CHARGE SINCE Jan 2021
NATIONALITY English
MATCHES 24

Sale Sharks director of rugby since 2021 and currently running the first team directly.

Tenure record

as of 6 Jun 2026
24PLAYED
8WON
0DRAWN
16LOST
33.3%WIN RATE
652 points scored · 789 conceded · -137 difference
RECENT WBristol Bears38–17LNewcastle Red Bulls42–45LLeicester Tigers33–47LGloucester Rugby15–21WHarlequin FC52–33LSaracens19–85

By competition

Premiership Rugby 18P · 5W · 0D · 13L
OPPONENT H/A SCORE RESULT
Bristol Bears 6 Jun 2026 H 38–17 W Newcastle Red Bulls 30 May 2026 A 42–45 L Leicester Tigers 17 May 2026 H 33–47 L Gloucester Rugby 8 May 2026 A 15–21 L Harlequin FC 25 Apr 2026 A 52–33 W Saracens 19 Apr 2026 H 19–85 L Bath Rugby 29 Mar 2026 H 26–31 L Exeter Chiefs 21 Mar 2026 A 14–26 L Northampton Saints 24 Jan 2026 H 29–43 L Bristol Bears 2 Jan 2026 A 17–19 L Harlequin FC 26 Dec 2025 H 43–17 W Northampton Saints 20 Dec 2025 A 21–47 L Exeter Chiefs 28 Nov 2025 H 26–27 L Leicester Tigers 25 Oct 2025 A 35–36 L Saracens 18 Oct 2025 A 14–65 L Newcastle Red Bulls 10 Oct 2025 H 57–5 W Bath Rugby 3 Oct 2025 A 16–28 L Gloucester Rugby 25 Sep 2025 H 27–10 W
Champions Cup 6P · 3W · 0D · 3L
OPPONENT H/A SCORE RESULT
Leinster Rugby 11 Apr 2026 A 13–43 L Harlequin FC 4 Apr 2026 A 26–17 W Stade Toulousain 17 Jan 2026 A 7–77 L Sharks 10 Jan 2026 H 26–10 W ASM Clermont Auvergne 13 Dec 2025 A 35–14 W Glasgow Warriors 5 Dec 2025 H 21–26 L
DATA NOTES

Alex Sanderson has overseen 24 completed Sale Sharks matches in our database since September 2025 — 8 won, 0 drawn, 16 lost. That is a 33.3% win rate, with 652 points scored and 789 conceded.

Records are computed from the WeTalkRugby match database and cover matches we hold data for within this tenure. They are not an official all-time record.

Latest Sale Sharks news

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Coaching career

  1. 2021- Sale Sharks Director of Rugby

Players under Alex Sanderson

Full squad →
Alfie Longstaff Forward Alex Wills Back Ben Curry Forward Arron Reed Back Bevan Rodd Forward Bradshaw Albert Back Dan Du Preez Forward Dom Hanson Back Ernst Van Rhyn Forward Gus Warr Back Ethan Caine Forward Joe Bedlow Back

About Alex Sanderson

Alex Sanderson has been Sale Sharks director of rugby since January 2021, arriving from Saracens where he had been part of the coaching staff through their most successful era. A former Saracens and Sale back-row forward, he has taken Sale to a Premiership final and established them as regular play-off contenders. He has been running the first team directly since head coach Marco Bortolami left by mutual agreement in December 2025.

Frequently asked

Who is the director of rugby of Sale Sharks?

Alex Sanderson is the director of rugby of Sale Sharks.

When did Alex Sanderson take charge?

Alex Sanderson took over at Sale Sharks in January 2021, around 5 years ago.

What is Alex Sanderson's record?

From 24 matches in our database: 8 wins, 0 draws and 16 defeats — a 33.3% win rate.

What nationality is Alex Sanderson?

Alex Sanderson is English.

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Andy Farrell Ireland · Head Coach Brad Mooar Fijian Drua · Incoming Head Coach Brendan Venter Saracens · Director of Rugby Christophe Urios ASM Clermont Auvergne · Head Coach Clark Laidlaw Hurricanes · Head Coach Clayton McMillan Munster · Head Coach