Sale’s Alex Sanderson: ‘People have given up a lot to make this special’

M ost people will tell you that winning is everything in a major final. There is scant room for background nuance on the scoreboard or in the record books. Occasionally, though, there is a rare exception and this year’s Premiership final is arguably one of them. “What we’ve built matters,” stresses Alex Sanderson, leaning against the outside wall of Sale Sharks’ training centre this week. “Plenty of people have given up a lot to make this special, important and lasting. That’s the key.”

The 43-year-old Sanderson is as competitive as anyone, if not more so. He is not remotely suggesting Sale are ambivalent about beating Saracens in what promises to be a full-throttle confrontation. But sometimes life really is as much about the journey as the destination. Sanderson’s Sharks are on a spiritual crusade that will not be solely defined by the result of their first Twickenham grand final in 17 years.

Because since Sanderson came home to his old club just over two years ago he has presided over something even more important. A rebirth? A reawakening? Under the banner of “Northern Rugby Matters”, Sale are fully committed to re-energising a region that has not always received its fair share of love from the game’s southern-based mandarins.

Sanderson, above all, has sought to build a club that really cares. Not just about winning but about each other. Among other things the club have sought advice from a top neuropsychologist on the power of togetherness and have installed a “mind gym” on site to help players become mentally more resilient. Individuals are encouraged to speak freely and openly. Sanderson has even gone hiking with Manu Tuilagi to help the England centre feel cared for and rooted in his local community. Can a