JEFF PROBYN

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME

Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson was close to tears after last week’s semi-final win against Leicester. Not because of the win, but the difference it could make to the north of England Rugby Union.
If they win next week’s final against Saracens, it will be only the third time a northern team has won the Premiership title since the leagues began in 1987. In many ways this shouldn’t be a surprise with just two teams now representing the whole of the north of England – Newcastle and Sale – even though the north probably has more club sid...