Sharks fan, the ‘Curry Bros’ have some brilliant news to bring you as Ben and Tom have officially signed new contracts with the club, with both England internationals penning lucrative new deals.
That’s right, brothers Tom and Ben Curry have announced they will be staying with Sale Sharks for the foreseeable future, each agreeing to brand new extensions with the Greater Manchester side.
As two of the most gifted players currently playing not just at Salford Community Stadium but in the country full stop, the 26-year-old twins are arguably Sale‘s biggest assets, and they simply couldn’t afford to lose them.
Thankfully, following a joyously received announcement video on Wednesday, 30 April, they don’t have to worry about that until at least 2027.
After making their debuts for the senior team almost a decade ago when they were just 18, the pair have gone on to become rugby union stars and stalwarts in the back row.
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Current team captain Ben Curry has now played 184 games for the Sharks, and brother Tom has 60 appearances for England, with both having notched numerous caps and personal achievements from a young age.
Their debut 2016 season saw the dynamic duo pick up joint ‘Young Player of the Season’ in a historic moment for the Gallagher Premiership, and they’ve only gone from strength to strength since.
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With that being said, tying them down for another two years minimum is a big coup for the club.
Speaking on his new contract, Ben said: “This is my childhood club. I can remember being there to watch the final game at Edgeley Park and now to be club captain means everything.
“I’m enjoying where I’m at right now and I think there are opportunities to win trophies in the coming years. It’s really cool to see where the club is now compared to when we first joined, and I want to keep building on that…
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“I fully believe in Alex and what [he], Simon, Michelle and Ged are building and I want to be a part of it.”
𝗜𝗧'𝗦 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗬 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚
We are delighted to announce Tom and Ben will be staying up North 🔥
As for brother Tom, he went on to say: “I grew up watching and loving Sale Sharks and to me, this is the pinnacle and I don’t want to leave.
“We’ve said for so long that this club has potential and we’re close, but I don’t feel that’s right any more. We’re there and I really believe that whether it’s this season or next, this team will win the big trophies. That’s what excites me day to day.
“There are so many good young players coming through at the moment and it makes me really proud to be able to play a part. We’ve added some brilliant international players and it’s made it a really special place to be.”
In terms of local talent, the Cheshire-born flankers have become firm Northern favourites and will age still on their side, both Sale and England can look to continue building squads with them in mind for years to come.
As for boss Alex Sanderson, he added: “I’m so happy because we were desperate to keep both Ben and Tom. They’re so good, so special, so important to the team and we’re blessed to have them.
“They’re almost superhuman and I marvel at some of the things they do. They lead by example, they put the team first all the time, they play through pain, through fatigue and they challenge me and the environment every day.
“They epitomise everything that I want this team to be about and while they’re much better than I ever was, their skills on and off the field are everything that I value.” Sale haven’t wasted time when it comes to business before next season, but securing contracts for both Ben and Tom Curry might be their best.
Noting that the two actually haven’t played as much rugby together as anyone would have liked, for England’s sake, here’s hoping we get to see plenty more of them sharing the pitch moving forward.
adidas and JD are giving away FREE Nell’s pizza with a Manchester Marathon medal
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Marathon finishers will be able to reward themselves with free Nell’s pizza this weekend, thanks to a collaboration with adidas and JD.
The sportswear giants will be teaming up with one of the city’s top pizza spots to hand out the ultimate post-race reward at Kampus this Sunday.
It’s all to celebrate the launch of the new adidas EVO SL ATRs, a shoe that’s built with running miles in mind.
And there’ll be a chance to grab an exclusive t-shirt too, and have your official marathon finish time branded on-site.
adidas and JD are giving away FREE Nell’s pizza with a Manchester Marathon medal / Credit: Supplied
As well as a free slice of Nell’s famous New York-style pizza and a drink, Manchester Marathon finishers will be able to enter into a range of giveaways, with prizes including the EVO SL ART, adidas merch, and range of other prizes.
And you’ll be recovering with a slice in hand and a live DJ keeping the post-race energy high
All you need to do is show your Manchester Marathon medal at Nell’s at Kampus, to grab your free slice, and check out adidas and JD’s latest drop.
Friends and family are encouraged to join too – after all, all runners know a marathon isn’t possible without that support crew.
There are also a bunch of giveaways and more to look forward to / Credit: Supplied
Pizza slices will be handed out on a first-come, first-serve basis, so make sure your sprint to Nell’s is your fastest yet.
Thankfully, the adidas EVO SL’s are built for speed…
adidas x JD x Nell’s – Manchester Marathon event
Taking place on Sunday 19 April, from 12pm to 8pm
Free pizza slice and a drink when you show your Manchester Marathon medal (while stocks last)
Exclusive merch and great prize giveaways from adidas and JD
Plus photo moments, live DJs, and more
Find it at The Bungalow, Kampus, M1 3GL (next to Nell’s)
Dave Challinor ‘extends’ Kyle Wooton’s career ‘by five years’ as Stockport County striker turns CB
Danny Jones
Stockport County manager Dave Challinor has quipped that he might have just extended star striker Kyle Wootton’s career “by five years” at the very least by moving him to centre-back.
Challinor‘s squad has been riddled with a fair few fitness setbacks for a good chunk of the season, but following Joseph Olowu’s MCL injury, he has now been left with just one traditional central defender available for selection.
As a result of this growing crisis, Wootton has been moved to centre-half for the time being, making his full debut in defence earlier this week.
Better still, he helped shore up County’s backline well enough to secure them not only three more important points but a clean sheet in the 2-0 win over AFC Wimbledon.
Naturally, with the Hatters having one of League One‘s leading scorers in Wootton with a total of 22 contributions so far (19 goals and three assists), it’s fair to say no one was expecting to see him pulled out of the position in which he’s reached new heights this term.
Already putting together his most productive campaign ever – netting more finishes across all competitions in 2025/26 than in any of his previous professional calendar performances – fans will no doubt be wanting him to return up top as soon as possible, but for now, Challinor is taking the gamble.
There is the possibility of January signing from Bolton, Josh Dacres-Cogley, taking up the mantle when he returns from injury, and County have since recalled youth product Christy Grogan from his loan, but for now, the 6’3″ centre-forward may have just discovered another option for the future of his career.
Nevertheless, despite the 29-year-old striker expressing some of his own concerns about playing such a crucial role at the other end of the pitch, his gaffer has already said he’s happy to flak should anything go awry in the coming weeks.
However, although County were unable to win the EFL Vertu Trophy Final against Luton earlier this month, where Wootton first had to drop back into defence, he met the assignment when making his maiden defensive appearance on Wednesday night.
While obviously not ideal, the travelling Stockport supporters were left pretty impressed, too.
"Kyle Wootton's magic, he wears a magic hat…" coming from the 700 travelling #StockportCounty.
Commenting on ‘Woots’ even showing a willingness to take on the task in the first place, his head coach labelled him “the most selfless player I’ve worked with in terms of doing jobs for the team.”
A glowing review, indeed, and that’s beyond the huge impact he’s already had in attack over the year.
Speaking to County TV, he went on to say: “We’ve probably extended his career by five years, haven’t we? […] When he gets tired of sticking the ball in the net, he can stop people at the other end.”
Noting that his side currently possesses “more fit forwards than defenders, he added: “It becomes about finding a way. I didn’t think that way would be having our leading goalscorer at centre-back, but it’s worked for us on the night, and we’ll see what Saturday [at Exeter City] looks like.”
You can hear Dave Challinor’s post-match interview in full right HERE and see the highlights from an important win over Wimbledon down below.
Danny Jones -
30th April 2025 
