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PLAYER PROFILES
RAFFI QUIRKESCRUM-HALF
RAFFI QUIRKE
Scrum half Raffi Quirke exploded onto the Premiership scene during the 2020/21 season, becoming the youngest Sale Sharks scrum-half in the league’s history when he made his debut against Harlequins at the age of 19.
The electric half-back nearly scored almost immediately after coming on as a replacement and his form quickly led to international recognition as he received a call-up to Eddie Jones’ England squad for the 2021 Autumn international series.
He scored his first England try in the win against South Africa at Twickenham on November 20, 2021.
Described as being ‘as North West as Coronation Street’ by the Daily Telegraph, Chorlton-born Raffi played his junior rugby at Broughton Park Rugby Club before joining the Sharks Academy.
SPORTING HERO: Brownlee Brothers
FAVOURITE FILM: Moana
GO-TO TAKEAWAY: Kung Po Prawns….Bosh
FAVOURITE GYM EXERCISE: Muscle Ups
THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOU: Determined, Honest, Adventurous
3
SCRUM HALF
SAM JAMESCENTRE
SAM JAMES
Lifelong Sharks fan Sam James joined the club in 2012 and has gone on to make more than 150 appearances for his boyhood club.
Usually deployed at centre, but equally happy at flyhalf or full-back, Sam is well known for his handling and ball skills, as well as his kicking game and his powerful left foot.
He made his first team debut in 2013, seven years after he was a ball boy for the Sharks, and has grown into one of the leading stars of the Sharks squad.
He was first spotted by Sharks at 13, with his county level selection for Cheshire putting him firmly on their radar.
SPORTING HERO: Jonny Wilkinson
FAVOURITE FILM: The Croods
GO-TO TAKEAWAY: Chicken Tikka Masala
FAVOURITE GYM EXERCISE: Shoulder Press
THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOU: Fun, Adventurous, Easy Going
5
CENTRE
MHAIRI GRIEVESCRUM-HALF
MHAIRI GRIEVE
Scrum-half Mhairi Grieve was one of the club’s original Sharks, joining the club from Waterloo when the women’s team was formed in 2020.
She had moved to the north west in 2016 after finishing her veterinary degree at Edinburgh University.
A keen hockey player, Mhairi’s first taste of rugby was at the age of six when she joined Selkirk Mini Rhinos. Her journey with the oval ball ground to a halt when she went to a secondary school without a girls’ rugby section, and her focus switched to equestrian eventing.
At university she was reintroduced to rugby and it wasn’t long before she received her first call-up, first to Scotland U20s and then to the full national side for a clash against Italy in 2014.
She’s since been capped 18 times at full international level and played for Scotland’s 7s team.
Outside the game, coffee-lover Mhairi enjoys CrossFit and works as a small animal veterinary surgeon in Cheshire.
SPORTING HERO: Tia-Clair Toomey
FAVOURITE FILM: Moana
GO-TO TAKEAWAY: Ham & Pineapple Pizza
FAVOURITE GYM EXERCISE: Clean & Jerk
THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOU: Competitive, Hardworking, Loyal
7
SCRUM-HALF
LIZZIE DUFFYFLY-HALF
LIZZIE DUFFY
Fly-half Lizzie Duffy became the club’s first homegrown Red Rose when she was called up to Simon Middleton’s squad ahead of the 2023 Women’s Six Nations.
The 20 year old first picked up a rugby ball at the age of seven and played both rugby union and league as a child, turning out for Pilkington Recs in league and Liverpool St Helens RUFC in union.
She committed to union at the age of 12 when she joined West Park’s girls team, and progressed through the north west player pathway, representing her county before being selected to be a part of the regional talent development group.
She went on to play for the north of England before receiving international recognition with England at both U18 and U20 level.
Lizzie was promoted to the Sharks Women senior squad ahead of the 2021-22 season, under the guidance and mentorship of the last Sale Sharks Red Rose, Katy Daly-Mclean.
Since then, she has seized the Sale number 10 shirt and excelled over two Premier 15s campaigns.
Outside rugby, Lizzie is studying physical education and school sport at Edge Hill University.
PET PEEVE: Loud Eaters
FAVOURITE FILM: Elvis
GO-TO TAKEAWAY: Chicken Chow Mein
FAVOURITE GYM EXERCISE: Pullups
THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOU: Loud, Confident, Funny
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FLY-HALF