Enjoy a unique opportunity to watch some of the best Rugby that Europe has to offer in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Saturday 14th of January 2012 at 16:00 hours in the Municipal Rugby Stadium in La Vila Joiosa, Costa Blanca, Spain

This Saturday, 14th January should be a historic and unforgettable day at the Rugby Stadium in Villajoyosa, with the arrival of the Sale Sharks.  The British Club from Manchester are due to play a European Cup match against Rugby Club La Vila with an approximate 1000 English Fans  due to travel from the UK, as well as expats from Calpe, Torrevieja, Benidorm and Alicante among others.

The encounter is creating a great deal of excitement amongst fans and supporters in the province of Alicante and in other areas of Spain. But who are the Sale Sharks?

This club was founded in 1861, and is the oldest team in their qualifying group in the Amlin Challenge Cup. The Sharks come from the city of Sale, just outside Manchester, and their home ground is in Edgeley Park, a ground they share with Stockport County F.C.

One of Europe's historical clubs it has won this Challenge Cup twice (2002 and 2005) and also won the prestigious English Premiership in 2006 against the Leicester Tigers.

The Sharks have a team of stars, with many international players from around the world including Cueto, Hendre and Sheridan who play as England internationals, Peel & Powell from Wales and Vernon and Dickinson from Scotland among others.

In the last Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand there were seven teams that had players from the Sharks.

Other key players who have worn the English team shirt are : Jason Robinson, Fran Cotton, Steve Smith, Steve Hanley, Bryan Redpath, Luke McAlister, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and Sebastien Chabal.

Currently ranked fifth in the English Premiership and classified in second place in the group qualification of the European Cup where they will play against the Alicante team...

The team headed by  Niel de Vos and coach Philippe Saint-André will visit the  Rugby Stadium in Villajoyosa for the first time, in a competition which has seen the Villajoyosa team grow with their European debut.   Despite the many differences between the other great teams in this tournament, La Vila are walking tall, proud of their club and their town in countries such as England and France where Rugby is a major sport.

They hope to prove in this last home match of the Amlin Challenge Cup that they can provide fans with competitive and passionate rugby.

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