Sale Sharks fans will be happy to hear that highly-rated youngster Raphael ‘Raffi’ Quirke has committed his future to the club after putting pen to paper on a fresh new contract.
The 23-year-old scrum-half has been dubbed as “one of the best signings in years” by supporter and now the England international is looking to further repay their faith and support by staying with the Sharks Family for the foreseeable.
Confirmed via the club website on Tuesday, 11 March, Quirke has now signed a two-year contract extension with his boyhood team
“Northern born and bred”, as the club have proudly proclaimed and having once been described by the Daily Telegraph as being “as North West as Coronation Street” Quirke played his junior games at Broughton Park Rugby Club before joining the Sharks Academy at the age of 18.
ADVERTISEMENT
After playing rugby since he was five years old and above his age group on many occasions, not to mention having become a North West champion triathlon champion at just 13, he was always bound to be an athlete – Sale fans will just be glad every day that he stuck with this sport and chose dark blue.
Bursting onto the Gallagher Premiership scene in the 2020/21 season, becoming the youngest Sale Shark in his position in league history when he made his debut against Harlequins at the age of 19, he’s proven to be an extremely impressive member of the squad.
ADVERTISEMENT
It wasn’t long before the pacey half-back’s talent earned him his first call-up to Eddie Jones’ England squad for the 2021 Autumn Nations Series.
He’s about as quick a nine as you’ll find.
Speaking on the new deal, the Manc sporting star said: “It’s such an exciting time to be a part of this club because I really believe that we’ve got the team and we’re close to winning some big trophies.
“Everyone wants to win trophies but to do it here, at my hometown club, playing with some of my best mates and with my whole family watching every week would be so special. Training and playing with some of my best mates is brilliant.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I love coming into Carrington every day because it really feels like home. I’m fully focused on playing as well as I can for Sale but I want to be involved with England too. With so many of our lads in the current squad, I know this is the best place for me to be.”
Put it this way, if you’re getting edits like this made in your honour, it’s fair to say you’ve got a pretty passionate personal following:
Quite the highlight reel already, even at such a young age.
As for Sharks Director of Rugby, Alex Sanderson, he said of Quirke extending his contract: “We wanted Raffi to find form so he could come to the table and get what he deserves for the calibre of player that he is. We feel like he has done that in recent games and he’s shown what a brilliant player he is.
“He’s a gamebreaker, he’s homegrown, he’s devoutly Northern and he’s got the ability and potential to be one of the world’s best in his position. He’s got work to do to get there, but we want to go on that journey with him.
“He’s the latest of many of our young, homegrown lads who have committed to the club because they understand our higher purpose, and they know how special it is to play and train with their best mates.
ADVERTISEMENT
“They want Sale Sharks to become the team and the club we know it can be, and for Raffi, that commitment is as much of a plus point as his talent.”
The future’s looking bright for the local rugby union outfit, especially as they look to keep investing in young players and the next generation of international talent.
WWE is returning to Manchester for a blockbuster live show
Danny Jones
Just a few months on from making its debut at Co-op Live, WWE has announced it will be returning to Manchester for another turn around the ring and a blockbuster clash of stars later this year.
However, this time they’re heading back to their roots here in Manchester with the AO Arena set to welcome them once again for a very special show.
As part of the build-up to the first-ever WWE Premium Live Event taking place in the French capital this August simply entitled, Clash in Paris, a number of shows will be taking place here in the UK first.
Teaming up not only with the AO but beloved local dive bar, Junior Jackson’s, for a special giveaway, wrestling fans have all the more reason to get excited by the ‘Road to Clash in Paris‘ programme.
With the venue also set to host a special screening of the 1995 Royal Rumble – the same year that the AO Arena first opened its doors – there are prizes to be won.
Not only are there 100 free drinks to be won at Junior’s, with the home venue Bunny Jackson’s and the country-style karaoke spin-off regularly showing the WWE action, but if you happen to be first and second in the queue you’re in for a real treat…
Yes, if you’re an eager enough beaver, the first two people through the door at JJ’s on Wednesday, 19 March will receive two free tickets to the live WWE show in Manchester on Tuesday, 26 August.
They’ll be letting people in for the ticket giveaway from 5pm and the free pints will be poured until approximately 7:20pm when the Royal Rumble rewatch is due to end.
See in the queue, I guess – and be prepared for us to wrestle you to be first in line.
Anything under the Jackson’s banner is considered the unofficial home of WWE in Manchester, as far as we’re concerned.
As for the AO Arena date, fans in attendance will see their favourite WWE Superstars in action, including Undisputed WWE Champion, a.k.a. ‘The American Nightmare’, Cody Rhodes; World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER, Jey Uso, WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton; Seth Rollins, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, Sami Zayn, and many more.
The final lineup is still yet to be fully confirmed but you’ll be treated to some seriously big names and, of course, they always have a few surprises up their sleeve.
Man City fan jailed after causing £10k damage to a police vehicle following Champions League victory
Emily Sergeant
A Manchester City fan has been jailed for his part in large-scale disorder following the club’s Champions League victory.
The court heard how, following Manchester City’s Champions League Final win over Inter Milan in Istanbul in Turkey on Saturday 10 June 2023, jubilant fans flocked to the streets of Manchester city centre for late-night celebrations.
The large influx of fans in high spirits prompted a police response to ‘ensure public safety’ and ‘prevent any public disorder’, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
However, the disorder did begin to escalate despite police presence.
A number of fans, including 22-year-old Leon Blackett, scaled a police vehicle and proceeded to jump up and down on it, which subsequently caused more than £10,000 worth of damage, and resulted in the vehicle having to be written off.
#JAILED | Leon Blackett (14/01/2003) of Craigmore Avenue, has been been handed a three-month jail term for causing £10k worth of damage to a police vehicle following the club's Champions League win in 2023, along with 41 months for other offences.
Following the disorder, an investigation was launched by GMP’s City Centre policing, with officers obtaining social media and CCTV footage that helped them to identify those responsible.
Blackett admitted to the offence, after he was arrested on Thursday 19 October 2023.
Following admitting to the offence, Blackett was sentenced to 44 months in prison – a three-month jail term for this football-related offence, along with 41 months for possession of a bladed article and a domestic related communications offence.
He has also been given a seven-year Football Banning Order, commencing on the day Blackett received his sentence.
“The actions by Blackett in the wake of Manchester City’s historic Champions League Final victory were completely unacceptable,” commented PC Matt Ford, from GMP’s Specialist Operations Planning Unit.
“This is a timely reminder to those who commit crimes while following the football in another country, we will seek prosecutions for unacceptable behaviour.”
Danny Jones -
11th March 2025 
