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Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Jason Robinson And Phil Keith Roach To Join Sale Sharks

Sale Sharks are delighted to announce that Jason Robinson is rejoining the club as Head Coach. Also joining the Sale Sharks Coaching team, under Director of Rugby Kingsley Jones, is Phil Keith Roach who was the scrummaging coach in Sir Clive Woodward’s Coaching Team that helped England win the World Cup in 2003. Both Jason and Phil along with Kingsley have signed two year deals with the Club.

Kingsley said, “ It’s fantastic news for the Club that Jason has agreed to join the coaching staff. It’s no coincidence that in the three years that Jason was captain was the most successful in the Clubs history. Jason has been a professional since the age of 16 and everything he has done in both codes, he has been successful at. He is renowned for his enthusiasm and drive and is a proven 100% winner. He also has great mentoring skills which will prove invaluable in his work with the senior and academy players at the Club.”

On Phil Keith Roach’s appointment Kingsley said, “ Phil brings a wealth of coaching experience with him having spent eleven years working with England. He has worked with some great coaches including Sir Clive Woodward and was scrummaging coach to England when they won the World Cup in 2003. I am delighted that he joins us in a formal capacity, as he has been a mentor and good friend to me over the past few years. Keith has helped and coached so many great forwards over the years including our own Andrew Sheridan, who he coached to winning his first cap.”

On signing his own two year deal as Director of Rugby, Kingsley said, “ We have exciting times and positive times ahead at the Club. I am very grateful to Brian Kennedy and Ian Blackhurst who chose to promote me after Philippe decided to leave the club and also to CEO James Jennings who has backed me all the way. Recruitment of players for 2009-2010 and beyond is at an advanced stage and we will in the near future be in a position to announce our new signings.”

Commenting on his return to Sale Sharks, Jason Robinson said, “I am delighted to be back involved at Sale Sharks and I am looking forward to working with Kingsley and the rest of the coaching team. I have missed the day to day involvement and am looking forward to getting started.”

Phil Keith Roach said

“ I am very pleased to be joining Kingsley and Sale Sharks. Sharks are a very focussed club, I like the set up and I like the people.The club is very ambitious and has come a long way over the past few years; Kingsley has been a big factor in this an I am sure he will take the club a lot further. I look forward to starting work with him in the very near future.”

Sale Sharks CEO James Jennings commented on the announcement said

“I am delighted that we have signed a new two year deal with Kingsley Jones and I am sure that under Kingsley’s direction the Club is set to achieve further success. It is a great testament to Kingsley that two of the most respected names in English rugby have agreed to join his coaching team. Jason Robinson is probably the most successful back that has played for England in the modern game and has unrivalled experience at both club and international level. Phil Keith Roach has for many years been recognised as one of the leading scrummaging coaches in world rugby and was one of the key members of the coaching team that helped England win the Rugby World Cup in 2003.

Kingsley has assembled one of the strongest coaching set ups in the Guinness Premiership, which will enable Sale Sharks to continue to challenge for major trophies in the coming seasons.”

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