Sharks look to have edge in Diamond derby

SALE boss Alex Sanderson has thanked Steve Diamond, his opposite number at Newcastle, for giving him extra motivation to win what has been dubbed ‘the Diamond derby’.

- JON NEWCOMBE

Diamond, currently the consultant director of rugby at the Falcons, has long been associated with the Sharks thanks to decades worth of service as a former player, coach and CEO, and his son Sam is the north-west club’s onthe-ball media manager.

As the north’s two most pre-eminent clubs a keen rivalry already exists between the clubs but the Diamond factor has added further fuel to the fire ahead of the Kingston Park clash between the league’s cellar dwellers and play-off contenders.

“Let’s talk about the Dimes influence here, it is something that we are aware of but we don’t want that to influence our performance and our preparation because of the white noise, it’s omni-present,” said Sanderson, who hopes to celebrate his 100th Premiership/European game in charge of the Sharks at the Premiership final on June 8.

“It has been three years since he has been here but still he has been managing to affect conversations through the obvious intent that this is a game that they are targeting. Thanks for that, actually, Steve, because you have given me some (extra) motivation. We’ve been posting to Sam false teams as to who is starting, I think Cueto made up one of those teams to see what gets back to him.”