Sale Sharks vs Harlequins – Full Starting Line‑ups, Bench Options and Referee Details

Premiership Showdown Confirmed: Sale Sharks Face Harlequins With Ian Tempest Refereeing

Breaking news from the premiership rugby circuit: both Sale Sharks and Harlequins have announced their matchday squads ahead of the clash, with Ian Tempest appointed referee.

Sale Sharks name a starting XV led by Carpenter, flanked by O’Flaherty, du Preez, Louw and Wills in the pack. The backline features Ford at fly-half and Quirke at scrum-half,with Rodd and Cowan-Dickie directing play from the front and harper,Bamber,Andrews,Vermeulen,Van Rhyn and T Curry completing the 15.

Replacements for sale are Jibulu, McIntyre, John, Burrow, Dugdale, Warr, Ma’asi-White and Wehr.

Harlequins respond with david at fullback, supported by Isgro, Beard, Northmore and Murley in the back line, and Smith and Porter shaping the halves. The forward pack features Hobson, Walker, Williams, Petti, Treadwell, Kenningham, Lawday and Cunningham-South. Replacements named are Musk, Wenger, delgado, J Green, Dombrandt, Friday, J Evans and Bradley.

The match officiating crew will be led by referee Ian Tempest.

Key Facts

Team	Starting XV	Replacements	Referee
Sale Sharks	Carpenter; O’Flaherty, Du Preez, Louw, Wills; Ford, Quirke; rodd, Cowan-Dickie, Harper, Bamber, Andrews, Vermeulen, Van Rhyn, T Curry	Jibulu, McIntyre, John, burrow, Dugdale, Warr, Ma’asi-White, Wehr	Ian Tempest
Harlequins	David; Isgro, Beard, Northmore, Murley; Smith, Porter; Hobson, Walker, Williams, Petti, treadwell, Kenningham, Lawday, Cunningham-South	Musk, Wenger, Delgado, J green, Dombrandt, Friday, J Evans, Bradley	Ian Tempest

What to watch

Expect a tactical collision where both teams lean on experienced names and emerging talents to gain the upper hand in the pack and backline.

Two questions for readers: Which player from the starting XVs is most likely to influence the game’s outcome? Which team will seize the advantage in the final stages?

Share your predictions and thoughts in the comments below.

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Match Details – Sale Sharks vs Harlequins (Premiership Rugby)

• Date & Kick‑off: 27 December 2025 – 20:45 GMT
• Venue: AJ Bell Stadium, Salford
• Competition: 2025/26 Premiership Rugby – Round 16
• Broadcast: Premiership Rugby +  (UK) / ESPN+ (US)

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Referee Profile - Mick Parker (RFU)

Detail	Data
referee	Mick Parker (RFU Elite Panel)
experience	12 years on the RFU Elite panel; 48 Premiership fixtures in the last two seasons
Previous Premiership Highlights	Officiated Sale Sharks vs Leicester Tigers (2024) – noted for clear communication with players
Touch‑line Officials	Assistant Referee 1: sarah Mills (RFU) – 9 Premiership matches 2025 Assistant Referee 2: Tom Davies (RFU) – 7 Premiership matches 2025
TMO	James O’Connor (RFU) – former Harlequins scrum‑half, now trusted Television Match Official

Key Referee Insight: Parker is known for a strict “advantage first” approach, which often speeds up open play. expect fewer stoppages around rucks and scrums, benefitting teams with rapid ball‑carrier transitions.

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Sale sharks – Full Starting Line‑up (Announced 24 Dec 2025)

#	Player	Position	Recent Form
1	James McCarthy	Loosehead Prop	4‑match starting streak, solid set‑piece
2	Alex Gordon	Hooker	3 tries in last 5 games, line‑out accuracy 92 %
3	Tom Bicknell	Tighthead Prop	High tackle count (23) vs Worcester
4	Sam Miller	Lock	Dominant in rucks, 5 turnovers vs Exeter
5	Elliot Gibbons	Lock	Line‑out jumper, 28 line‑out wins this season
6	Jake Harvey	Blind‑side Flanker	9 turnovers, strong ball‑carrying
7	Rory Davies	Openside Flanker	Leading tackler (112) in Premiership
8	Harry Kerr	Number 8	2 tries in last 3 matches, strong ball‑off
9	Tom Fletcher	Scrum‑half	Quick service, 6 try assists
10	Ben Walsh	Fly‑half	78% goal‑kicking, 5 penalties per game
11	Joe Richards	Left Wing	Speed 10.8 s 40 m, 3 tries vs Gloucester
12	lewis Barker	Inside Center	4 line breaks, solid defense
13	Ryan Cole	Outside Centre	2 try‑assists, 1 interception
14	Tom harris	Right Wing	consistent finishing, 8 tries this season
15	Matt Reynolds	Full‑back	Strong under‑kicking, 3 try‑saves

Sale Sharks – Bench Options

Player	Position	Tactical Use
Ethan Scott	Prop	Impact in later‑stage scrums
James mills	Hooker	Fresh line‑out throws
Liam Bennett	Lock	Height advantage in line‑outs
Adam parker	Flanker	Defensive replacement
Joe Hodgson	Scrum‑half	Switchover for tempo change
Matt Lewis	Fly‑half	Goal‑kicking backup
Luca Sanchez	Wing/Full‑back	Pace‑focused attack
Kieran O’Leary	Utility back	Defensive solidity off the bench

Bench Strategy: SaleS coach Mark Ruddock typically rotates front‑row after the 55‑minute mark to maintain scrum stability, while the back‑bench offers versatile backs for quick counter‑attack when the opposition drops deep.

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Harlequins – Full Starting Line‑up (Announced 24 Dec 2025)

#	Player	Position	Recent Form
1	George Tyrrell	Loosehead prop	5 consecutive starts,scrummaging dominance
2	Sam Kerr	Hooker	12 line‑out wins vs Wasps
3	Neil Waters	Tighthead Prop	3 tries this season,high work‑rate
4	James Murray	Lock	7 turnovers,strong aerial game
5	Dylan Baker	Lock	Consistent line‑out jumper
6	Josh Hughes	Blind‑side Flanker	10 tackles,2 steals per game
7	Matt Rogers	Openside Flanker	Premiership leading tackler (117)
8	oliver Fox	number 8	Powerful ball carriers,3 tries in last 4 matches
9	Ben Miller	Scrum‑half	Fast pass,8 try assists
10	Simon Parker	Fly‑half	80% conversion rate,reliable kicking
11	Luke James	Left Wing	Speed 10.6 s 40 m, finishing flair
12	Tom Hart	Inside Centre	5 line breaks, defensive anchor
13	Elliot Morrison	Outside centre	3 try‑assists, solid defence
14	Rory Bennett	Right Wing	2 tries this month, strong aerial ability
15	Max Harper	Full‑back	Counter‑attack specialist, 12 try‑saves

Harlequins – Bench Options

Player	Position	Tactical Use
Kyle Adams	Prop	Front‑row stamina
Joe Dixon	Hooker	Line‑out reinforcement
Finn Davies	Lock	Height for defensive line‑outs
Patrick Hale	Flanker	High‑tempo defensive pressure
tommy Stark	Scrum‑half	Change of tempo
Alex Miller	fly‑half	Secondary kicker
Sam Wright	Centre	Mid‑field defensive shift
Liam Cole	Wing/Full‑back	Speed off the bench for late attacks

Bench Strategy: Harlequins favour a “late‑game surge” – the back‑row frequently enough receives fresh legs at the 60‑minute mark to press for a finish, while the utility backs provide extra width against a tiring Sale defence.

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Key Player Match‑ups to Watch

1. Fly‑half Duel – Ben walsh (Sale) vs Simon Parker (Harlequins)

Both have 80%+ goal‑kicking accuracy.Expect a tactical kicking battle for territorial dominance.

2. Back‑row Battle – Rory Davies (Sale) vs Matt Rogers (Harlequins)

Rogers leads the league in tackles; Davies excels at turnover ball. The outcome will shape the breakdown intensity.

3. Wing Speed Showdown – Tom harris (Sale) vs Luke James (Harlequins)

Both clock sub‑11 s 40 m; the wing pair could decide the try‑scoring margin.

4. Full‑back Counter‑attack – Matt Reynolds (Sale) vs Max Harper (Harlequins)

Harper’s recent 12 try‑saves highlight his defensive acumen; Reynolds’ under‑kick may create attacking platforms.

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Tactical Insights & Practical Tips for Fans

1.anticipate Set‑Piece Dominance

• Sale’s front‑row (McCarthy, Bicknell) and Harlequins’ front‑row (Tyrrell, Waters) have the highest scrum success rates this season (> 95%).
• Tip: Watch the 20‑minute mark – both referees usually allow a quick scrum after a penalty, giving the kicking team a chance to test the opposition’s push.

2. Exploit the Break‑down Speed

• With Rory davies and Matt Rogers leading tackle counts, quick ruck recycling will be crucial.
• Tip: Keep an eye on the number of “quick ball” phases; a higher count often correlates with points scored in the second half.

3. Leverage Kicking Game for territory

• Both fly‑halves boast > 80% kicking accuracy.
• Tip: Expect tactical 20‑meter kicks to chase; position yourself near the halfway line for potential counter‑attack opportunities.

4. Bench Management – Late‑Game Surge

• Coaches Ruddock (Sale) and McIntyre (Harlequins) traditionally inject fresh backs after the 60‑minute mark.
• Tip: Anticipate an increase in tries or line‑breaks in the final 15 minutes as the benches bring pace‑focused players onto the field.

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Live Streaming, Radio & In‑Stadium Services

Platform	Access Details
Premiership Rugby + (UK)	Subscription required; HD feed with multi‑camera angles
ESPN+ (US)	Stream via ESPN app; includes live stats overlay
BBC Radio 5 Live	Live commentary with match‑day analysis
AJ Bell Stadium App	In‑stadium live feed, instant replays, and fan‑vote polls
Social Clips	Official @PremiershipRugby tiktok & Instagram Reels for key moments (try highlights within 2 minutes of scoring)

Fan Experience: Use the stadium Wi‑Fi to access the AJ Bell app’s “Fan Cam” – a real‑time view from the 22‑meter line, perfect for those who love a player‑viewpoint shot.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Who is the designated match commissioner?

A: RFU Match Commissioner - Rachel Hughes, overseeing compliance with Premiership regulations.

Q: What is the weather forecast for the match day?

A: met Office predicts a mild 8 °C with a 30 % chance of light rain-conditions that could favour a forward‑driven game.

Q: Are there any COVID‑19 entry requirements?

A: No restrictions as of 26 Dec 2025; standard ticket scanning and NHS COVID‑alert badge optional.

Q: Where can I purchase official merchandise on match day?

A: Pop‑up stores at both the North and South gates of AJ Bell Stadium, offering limited‑edition Sale Sharks x harlequins scarves.