World Cup winner Ben Cohen will make his league debut for Sale Sharks in the Guinness Premiership opener against Leicester Tigers on Friday.

Fellow summer arrivals Jack Forster and Sisa Koyamaibole are also included in the squad named by director of rugby Kingsley Jones.

“This is probably the toughest challenge we could have expected on the opening night of the new season,” said Jones.

“We have got several newcomers and we are playing a very settled Leicester team. I have a lot of respect for the Tigers and their achievements last season. They are very strong up front and we will need to work hard for the whole 80 minutes. We have prepared well this week and the whole squad are looking forward to the game.”

The game marks the 10th anniversary of the team being renamed Sale Sharks. Tickets are available from the Sharks hotline on 08444 994 994 or online at www.salesharks.com

Sale Sharks team:
15 Nick Macleod
14 Mark Cueto
13 Chris Bell
12 Lee Thomas
11 Ben Cohen
10 Charlie Hodgson
9 Richard Wigglesworth
1 Eifion Roberts
2 Marc Jones
3 Jack Forster
4 Chris Jones
5 Dean Schofield (captain)
6 James Gaskell
7 Neil Briggs
8 Sisa Koyamaibole

Replacements:
16 Mahonri Schwalger
17 Rob O’Donnell
18 Martin Halsall
19 David Tait
20 Luke Abraham
21 Will Cliff
22 Mathew Tait
23 Andy Tuilagi