Sale Sharks now backed by one of the wealthiest owners in world rugby

Monday, 14 April 2025 at 07:57

byRugby Rucker

Sale Sharks are riding a wave of excitement after their owner, Simon Orange, secured a £1 billion windfall through the sale of a majority stake in his firm, CorpAcq, to TDR Capital.

Competition: Get a Chance to Watch the Lions in Australia

As reported by the

Mail Online's Rugby Confidential, this deal places Orange among the richest rugby club owners in the world – and he’s ready to splash the cash.

The Mail Online revealed that Orange, alongside his wife Michelle, plans to reinvest heavily into the club, with transformative upgrades to both the Salford Community Stadium and the club’s Carrington training base already in the works.

Big dreams for Sale

In a statement to the Mail Online's Rugby Confidential, Orange shared his ambitious vision: “Michelle is leading it, working on the stadium and the training ground, trying to move things forward. It’ll take a couple of years to sort agreements and planning, then another couple to build. It’s not a short-term project.”

While the club remains bound by Premiership Rugby’s salary cap, this financial boost ensures their long-term stability and positions them as serious contenders for domestic and European glory.

“Sale’s future was already secure, but this makes it doubly so,” Orange added. “Hopefully, it can help us get to the top of the game and stay there for years to come.”

With Orange’s backing and Michelle’s leadership in improving the infrastructure, Sharks fans could be witnessing the dawn of a new golden era for their club. As the Mail Online aptly noted, Sale’s transformation is just beginning.

Alun Wyn Jones and Owen Farrell included on list of worst British & Irish Lions

The British & Irish Lions is the pinnacle of a player's career – a chance to prove yourself against the very best. But not everyone rises to the occasion.

While some have cemented their legacies in red jerseys, others have left fans wondering how they even made the squad.

From unfortunate injuries to underwhelming performances, we take a look at some of the worst Lions players across different tours, with big names like Owen Farrell and Alun Wyn Jones making the cut.

2021 tour: Owen Farrell – The forgotten playmaker

Owen Farrell, one of the most recognisable and influential players in modern rugby, endured a tour to forget in South Africa. Despite his vast experience and reputation as a leader, Farrell was named by SA Rugby Mag as the worst-performing Lion on the tour.

Initially expected to play a key role, he started three games and featured off the bench in the first two Tests.

However, as the series decider loomed, head coach Warren Gatland made a brutal call – dropping Farrell from the matchday 23 entirely. It was a stark fall from grace for a player who was once considered indispensable.

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7 x Night’s accommodation in Sydney with bed & breakfast (28 July-3 Aug)
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2017 tour: Stuart Hogg – A case of bad luck

Stuart Hogg was primed to be the Lions' Test full-back in 2017, but fate had other plans. The Scottish star suffered a freak injury in the third game of the tour against the Crusaders, colliding with Conor Murray’s elbow and fracturing his eye socket.

While injuries are unfortunate, Hogg’s Lions career as a whole was disappointing. He failed to make a significant impact on the 2013 or 2021 tours either, making him one of the most underwhelming repeat selections in Lions history.

2013 tour: Tom Court – The holiday call-up

If there was ever a Lions selection that left fans scratching their heads, it was Tom Court in 2013. The Ireland prop wasn’t even in the original squad – he was on holiday with his family when he got the call-up.

Thrown into the squad late, Court was never going to be a game-changer. He did manage to hold his own in the scrum against the Melbourne Rebels, but his inclusion remains one of the strangest in Lions history.

2009 tour: Alun Wyn Jones – A rare disaster for the legend

Alun Wyn Jones is a Lions legend – but his 2009 tour was anything but legendary. A young second-row at the time, he struggled against the formidable Springbok pack, leading Bleacher Report to rate his performances a dismal 4/10.

Jones was criticised for losing the ball in contact, looking out of his depth, and failing to impose himself physically. At times, he even looked "terrified" according to some reports. It was a rocky start to a Lions career that would later see him become one of the most respected captains in history.

2005 tour: Andy Titterrell – The most questionable selection?

The 2005 Lions tour to New Zealand was an unmitigated disaster, and some of the squad selections did little to help. Among the most baffling was Sale Sharks hooker Andy Titterrell, who had just two England caps to his name.

Sir Clive Woodward’s decision to take a bloated 44-man squad led to several left-field inclusions, but Titterrell stood out as particularly bizarre. Lacking the physicality and technical ability required at this level, he made little impact and was quickly forgotten.