Rigg starts and Wade chases try record as Newcastle host Sale in northern derby

Will Rigg returns to the Newcastle Red Bulls starting XV for Friday’s Gallagher Premiership derby against Sale Sharks at Kingston Park, making his first league start for the club after recovering from an injury sustained in last month’s PREM Rugby Cup win over Leicester Tigers.

The former Exeter Chiefs centre slots into midfield for a Newcastle side still searching for their first league victory of the season, with head coach Dan McFarland framing the fixture as a pivotal moment in the club’s development.

“It’s a big fixture, it’s Gallagher PREM Derby Weekend and this is a battle for the north,” McFarland said. “Sale over the last number of years have deservedly had primacy, albeit we did come back to record a great win here towards the end of last season. But we’re also very proud of what we’re about. Our eyes are firmly fixed on picking off the teams ahead of us.”

The match carries a subplot of its own out wide, where Christian Wade lines up on the right wing sitting just one try short of Chris Ashton’s all-time Premiership record of 101. The former England international has been in fine form, and McFarland was unequivocal in his support for Wade reaching the milestone.

“We all hope he gets it, firstly because he’s a great person and we want him to have that accolade, and secondly because if he is scoring tries on a regular basis then we must be doing something right as a team,” the head coach said.

There are further selection storylines in the Newcastle lineup. Josh Hodge is set for his first Premiership appearance of the season after overcoming a broken hand suffered in pre-season, while Argentina prop Francisco Moreno could make his league debut from the bench.

McFarland was respectful of Sale’s qualities but insistent that Newcastle’s focus would be on their own game. “They’re a big, physical team, they’ve prided themselves on that forward-oriented identity over the last number of years and have also developed their game to include real threats out wide,” he said. “First and foremost we’ve got to focus on our own strengths.”

Sale Sharks, who have consistently challenged near the top of the Premiership in recent seasons and recruited strongly this summer, arrive as the stronger side on current form. For Newcastle, Friday night at Kingston Park represents an early chance to signal intent in what McFarland called “a really important night for us to set down a marker.”