Sale Sharks brought an end to their league season with an emphatic victory over Newcastle this weekend, cruising past the Falcons 54-12 and showing some good preparation ahead of their highly-anticipated home semi-final against Leicester Tigers.
The visitors might have already been consigned to a bottom-placed finish before rocking up to the AJ Bell stadium, but they might have expected a slightly more closely-run affair after opening the scoring inside three minutes.
However, it wasn’t meant to be and after a strong season for the Sharks and their historic semi-final against Leicester looming, they answered back just as quickly.
Before long, it was 21-7 to the home side and after starting the second half even stronger, they smelt blood, punishing every mistake possible and putting a further 33 points past the visitors. With a total of 10 tries in the game, Sale couldn’t have hoped to head into next week’s cup semi in better shape.
𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟-𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 | 🦈 54-12 🦅
Heading to the semi-final in fine fettle after a ten try thriller at the AJ Bell 🙌
Sale Sharks round off the season comfortably as they prepare for the big Premiership Rugby semi-final.
With Tom Roebuck, Sam James, Ben Curry; Bevan Rodd, Raffie Quirke and Aaron Reed all getting on the scoresheet, the Sharks will no doubt be feeling confident ahead of the big fixture on Sunday, 14 May, especially being at home.
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Given the momentous nature of the tie, tickets for the historic meeting sold out almost instantly, this being the team’s first home semi-final in 17 years — the last time being when they won it and against the Tigers, no less.
Even this warm-up game served as a historic occasion as veteran Will Cliff also called time on his professional career this season at age 34, enjoying a final run-out ahead of his testimonial. The club made clear how much his presence will be missed with a heartfelt video in April.
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Moreover, with the Women’s team set to face off against third-placed Bristol Bears at Heywood Road a day prior to the Leicester game — no doubt looking for vengeance after the defeat back in January — is set to be a stellar weekend for the Sharks.
𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙎 𝙒𝙀𝙀𝙆𝙀𝙉𝘿 🔥
The ultimate Sharks weekender has arrived, #SharksFam 🙌.
Two unmissable clashes as we look to make this weekend one to remember!
Join us at Heywood Road on Saturday, all season ticket holders and U18s get 𝘍𝘙𝘌𝘌 entry! #FabricOfTheNorth
As for Sale vs Leicester, the clubs have met three times already this season, with the Sharks’ chances looking strong having won on all three occasions.
That being said, this will be the 106th meeting between the two and just the thirteenth at AJ Bell Stadium, with Leicester winning 69 of those fixtures compared to Sale’s 32, so it’s arguable that history is on the side of the Tigers. Nevertheless, the home advantage will no doubt play heavily in Sale’s favour.
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Elsewhere, first-place finishers Saracens host Northampton Saints in their semi-final on Saturday and should both teams progress, the league leaders — whom the Sharks beat back in March — will then be the only thing that stands in the way of the Manchester side’s first title since 2006. Can they do it?
You can watch Sale Sharks’ convincing victory over Newcastle Falcons down below:
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it
Emily Sergeant
Erling Haaland has answered the all-important question.
The question heard around the world, the question on everyone’s lips, a question that has absolutely nothing to do with football whatsoever… that’s right, he’s answered Letterboxd’s famous question of ‘what are your four favourite films?’.
If you’re unaware of what Letterboxd is, it describes itself as being an ‘online diary platform and app for film lovers’ and it gives users the chance to display their four favourite films at the top of their profile for all to see (and judge).
An extension of this has then been Letterboxd asking celebrities in press junket interviews and on red carpets what their ‘four faves’ are – and it’s gone on to become something of a phenomenon in the film world.
Everyone from massive A-list movie stars, to indie darlings and up-and-coming names have answered this question before, and now (it appears) to be Erling Haaland’s turn.
He’s not the first footballer to be tasked with question though, as the entire Spurs team was ambushed with it by former player – and famously massive cinephile – Alfie Whiteman last year, but it’s fair to say that after the summer he’s had with Norway at the World Cup, achieving international fame in the process, that Haaland is one of the most high-profile to answer it in a long while.
So, what’s on Erling’s list then?
Well, to self-confessed ‘film bros’ out there, you’re not going to find any deep cuts in this selection unfortunately, and you’re probably not going to get any recommendations for movies you haven’t seen before either, but come on, he is only a footballer after all.
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it / Credit: Letterboxd
First up for the Manchester City striker is a pretty common pick by straight white men, it’s The Wolf of Wall Street, and he doesn’t give much of a reason for it, other than just suggesting: “I think you understand why”.
He then follows that up with Ridley Scott’s classic Gladiator, calling it ‘amazing’, before naming 2004’s epic Troy, and then rounding it out with a Christmas favourite for many, Home Alone, adding that he ‘watched it a lot as a kid, and then again now’.
As for fan reaction to Haaland’s four favourites, let’s just say it’s been mixed.
Among the 1,000+ comments on the Instagram video, you’ll find just as many people called him ‘king’ and saying he has ‘goated’ taste, as you will comments like this: “He has the most male gazed top four in history of Letterboxd.”
Manchester City reveal world-first third kit… designed by AI
Daisy Jackson
Manchester City have just revealed the club’s third kit for the season, and it’s a world-first AI-designed kit.
The new Man City and Puma kit was revealed in full this morning after days of teasing on billboards across Manchester.
For the first time in professional football history, the kit is designed by a fan, using AI.
180,000 fans submitted designs through the Puma AI Creator, with the winning design now projected on some of the city’s biggest digital billboards – on Market Street, and at Printworks.
Created by lifelong Cityzen and stills photographer Elliott, the final design is inspired by Manchester City’s iconic 13/14 season away shirt.
Elliott’s creative interpretation was crowned in January 2025 after a global fan vote.
The digital billboards show each different stage of the AI design process, from prompt to finished design, with the tagline ‘designed by one of us, chosen by all of us’.
The AI Man City kit reveal
Eagle-eyed Man City fans may have noticed a cryptic ‘loading’ screen in town on Tuesday, with just a hint of the shirt visible.
Then on Wednesday, the screens displayed: “AI prompt accepted. Fan vote confirmed. Final Manchester City 26/27 Third Kit design processing.”
Then the full reveal has taken place today, Thursday 27 August, finally unveiling the full shirt with the words: “Designed by one of us. Chosen by all of us”.
Reacting to live images of the billboards, Elliott said: “Seeing my complete design revealed on billboards in the city centre this morning was unbelievable.
“City has been part of our family’s life for as long as I can remember, so this is as good as it gets for me.
“Creativity is naturally part of my everyday life as a photographer, but it was good to turn my hand to something else and see what could be created with the use of AI.
“The 13/14 away shirt was always my favourite, so it felt like the natural starting point for my prompt. From there, it was amazing to see the technology take that spark of an idea and turn it into something I could actually shape and refine.
“To know that a shirt I designed on my lunch break will now be worn by the players is something I still can’t quite get my head around!”
The 26/27 Manchester City Third Kit will be available at mancity.com/shop and Manchester City Official Stores, with 10% off for Members and Seasoncard holders (automatically applied when logged in with a Member account online).
Danny Jones -
9th May 2023 
