Romance of the Champions Cup has England legend Mark Cueto back in love with Sale Sharks
MARK CUETO is back in love with rugby thanks to the romance of the cup.
The ex-England, Lions and Sale winger played in the club’s previous Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final 15 years ago – when they lost 16-6 to Biarritz.
Whilst the class of 2006 won the Premiership to make up for being knocked-out in the last eight – the current crop of stars are looking to go one better in La Rochelle.
And despite heading-up Sale’s commercial team after retiring in 2015 as the Premiership’s top-scorer, Cueto had fallen out of love with rugby . . until now.
The 41-year-old told SunSport: “For me, with my role at the club and as a fan, I’ve really found my spark for rugby again.
“I went through a period of denial when I retired and didn’t watch many games and lost my love a bit.
“But with everything that has been going on here, your eyes and ears are pricked and excited by the potential.
“In these last six weeks since Alex Sanderson has come in he has really re-lit that life for me with rugby and with Sale.
“There is so much excitement around the club. And If there is one club you want to be part of at the minute in the Premiership, it is Sale.
“We like to go under the radar, but the sky is the limit at the moment and that is great to be a part of.”
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New boss Sanderson’s arrival from Saracens has added extra bite to the Shark-infested waters around Manchester.
With England superstar Tom Curry in their ranks, as well as World Cup winner Faf de Klerk, Cueto hopes that more of their unsung heroes will also start getting the Test-level credit that they deserve.
England boss Eddie Jones is finally taking more of an interest after the worst Six Nations finish has forced his hand to bring through the next generation.
Cueto said: “There are a few whispers again about Josh Beaumont and Bevan Rodd, who is doing really well.
“Players can’t expect to get that international recognition if you are not performing and not in the top four.
“Naturally, if the club is up there, then that means the players are playing well and the international coaches will be watching them.
“We have some unbelievable young English talent like the James brothers, Curry brothers and Josh Beaumont to name a few.
“You want your boys to get that recognition.”
Sale and reigning champions Exeter Chiefs are the only two English sides left in the competition.
But if Sharks were thinking about getting to the final from out of the blue, their monster 57-14 win at Scarlets wrecked that.
Sharks legend and Sportsbreaks.com ambassador Cueto added: “The thing about a result and a performance like that is that there is no way you can sneak through the back door now.
“We have announced ourselves and La Rochelle will be ready. But our lads are in a good spot and are full of momentum.
“We’ve been open and public about aiming for top four and challenging at the top.
“Things seem to be coming together, but we have to deliver.
“Everyone is ambitious and passionate about winning something – I think we are in a better position now than we have ever been these last five years.”
Mark Cueto is an ambassador for Sportsbreaks.com – an Official Travel Agent for Rugby World Cup France 2023, with Match Breaks now available here.