Sale Sharks now backed by one of the wealthiest owners in world rugby
04/14/2025 02:57 AM
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.
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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.
WIN A TRIP TO THE 2025 LIONS:
THE PACKAGE INCLUDES
- 2 x Return flight tickets from the UK to Australia
- 2 x Tickets to watch the 2nd Test in Melbourne
- 2 x Tickets to watch the 3rd Test in Sydney
- 4 x Night's accommodation in Melbourne with bed & breakfast (24-27 July)
- 7 x Night's accommodation in Sydney with bed & breakfast (28 July-3 Aug)
- 2 x Flight tickets Melbourne to Sydney including airport hotel group transfers
- 2 x Tickets to watch a private function with Lions legends
- Additional events to be announced
The winner will be part of the Lions supporters group with tour representatives on hand to oversee everything.
CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO
The post Sale Sharks now backed by one of the wealthiest owners in world rugby appeared first on Ruck.
