[Olyy]

The club has already confirmed the departures of James Harper (Shark #334), Dan du Preez (315), Raffi Quirke (333), Obi Ene (365) and Rob du Preez.

In addition, Tumy Onasanya (346), WillGriff John (287), Hyron Andrews (373), Nye Thomas (336), Tom Curtis (320), Joe Bedlow (341), Huw Davies (352), Albert Bradshaw (388), Tom Davis and Frank Chatterton will also leave.

The club can confirm that Tadgh McElroy (377), Sam Bedlow (257), Rouban Birch (308), Will Wootton (363) and Jack Lightbown have left the club with immediate effect, while wingers Gurshwin Wehr (399) and Regan Grace (398) departed in January at the end of their short-term contracts.

https://www.salesharks.com/2026/05/19/s ... players-3/


Few surprises in there, whilst they've not been getting much game time I wold've thought a few of those would be kept on for depth purposes
Three scrumhalves leaving and none incoming as of yet!

[ejndavid95]

Onasanya / WGJ / Harper > Francis / N Smith / Dlamini

Andrews > Lawes / Scheepers

DDP / Birch > Canakaivata / Tshiunza

Quirke > Roe??

RDP / S Bedlow > Lozowski / Marchant

Ene > Loganimasi / Opoku Fordjour

Dare I say it...I'd say on balance, we've upgraded in terms of quality based on the confirmed signings so far.

The likes of Nye Thomas & Tom Curtis could necessitate a couple more 'squad depth' signings. The rest I'd assume will be promoted from within with the likes of Longstaff / McEachran / Bell / Raymont / Gilmore / Woodman / Kelly / Hanson / O Davies all getting game time of late.

[Olyy]

Good breakdown, also made me realise that SiMac isn't on the list so must still be around - that's great news, he's still a top operator in the tight when he's fit

I believe Lawes has said he can't play lock anymore due to a back issue, so I imagine we'll play Tshiunza there (though i was surprised to see how little he's played there in his career (16 starts, though a number more off the bench, vs 35 in the backrow)
He's currently playing 7 for Chiefs (though they play their flankers in the SH configuration, with their openside wearing 6) - last season he played almost exclusively in the row (looking through allrugby that looks to be the only season where he's been only in the second row)


Gonna be interesting to see what our lineup looks like next season when everyone's fit (not that that ever happens) - back 5 of the scrum (and their bench slots) especially

[RinTin]

All guys being released make sense. Lozowski viewed as back up to Ford I'd imagine. Numbers in vs numbers out is very balanced especially when you look at the names who can be moved up from the academy.

Curtis being bought out of his contract is interesting (signed until end of next season).

Ethan Caine made it through the cull. Looks certain to be 4th choice though now. Tumy had a lot of potential, but would be 5th choice next season with Si Mac making it through!

No DP's anymore is a sad thought, so is not getting to see Frank the Tank get onto the field.

[Yareet]

Ene > Loganimasi / Opoku Fordjour

Took me a while!

[Surbiton_Shark]

Knew Si Mac was saying as bumped into him a few weeks ago - he was with ToF and his situation was less clear so assume this means he's staying at well.

Were we expecting Tumy to go? thought he was highly rated and you'd want to keep hold of as many decent props as possible.

Perhaps it's like this at every Prem club but the names of that list who barely played this season does make you wonder about our management. The irish hooker for one...how's Birch the local lad gone from getting player of the match - interviewed on BT sport then never heard of again....the younger Bedlow had a great game in his rare appearance in the away win in Clermont then was barely seen again - prob the same at all clubs TBF. Thought Andrews was a good signing for us - always did well

[RinTin]

Were we expecting Tumy to go? thought he was highly rated and you'd want to keep hold of as many decent props as possible.

Loosehead - Rodd, Mcintyre, Smith, Mceachran, AOF (if needed).

Tighthead - AOF, Francis, Dlamini, Bell, Raymont.

We don't need anymore props.

[Olyy]

Curtis being bought out of his contract is interesting (signed until end of next season).

Wonder if it's release-by-request (or an optional final year)?
Gotta be disheartening getting as little game time as he's gotten - think someone said he's off in Australia playing atm? Maybe he's had an offer to stay on and play in whatever their 2nd tier is called (shute shield?) or something like that, or maybe an offer from Caldy to replace Wilkinson?

Can't imagine we'd have stood against him if he wanted to leave with Lozowski coming in and Ollie Davies getting minutes now

[Clutch]

Where is Wilkinson going, he was well like at Caldy?

I can't get my head around the Curtis thing. I know we don't know the ins and outs of it, but on paper it reads appallingly.

Eng U 20 star. Never selected, but always offered new contracts to keep him, which implies we rated him. Given captaincy in prem cup games, which again shows we rate him highly. 

But RDP shoe horned in from centre which Sanderson admitted is detrimental, and he had ONE, yes ONE proper start in his career. And by proper I mean in the first team, rather than prem cup or an away game in Europe where we put a second team out. 

It's almost abusive to keep someone here under false promises. Obviously we don't know the full story but can anyone come up with a theory or the truth. The owners banned me from the Facebook group for suggesting he'd been tweeted poorly, which is an odd reaction in itself. 

[Olyy]

Where is Wilkinson going, he was well like at Caldy?

Announced by Doncaster a couple of days ago,
Apparently Caldy were keen to keep him but couldn't match the offer from Doncaster

[RinTin]

That's what I saw too - Doncaster offering him something like £45k on a part time contract. Sort of ideal if he's considering life outside rugby too. Good for him.

[Yareet]

Where is Wilkinson going, he was well like at Caldy?

I can't get my head around the Curtis thing. I know we don't know the ins and outs of it, but on paper it reads appallingly.

Eng U 20 star. Never selected, but always offered new contracts to keep him, which implies we rated him. Given captaincy in prem cup games, which again shows we rate him highly. 

But RDP shoe horned in from centre which Sanderson admitted is detrimental, and he had ONE, yes ONE proper start in his career. And by proper I mean in the first team, rather than prem cup or an away game in Europe where we put a second team out. 

It's almost abusive to keep someone here under false promises. Obviously we don't know the full story but can anyone come up with a theory or the truth. The owners banned me from the Facebook group for suggesting he'd been tweeted poorly, which is an odd reaction in itself. 

I don’t think he left because he was misquoted on social media

[RinTin]

67 senior games by the age of 24 when you are competing with established 10's such as George Ford, AJ Maginty and RDP isn't a bad return.

The club chose him over Kieran Wilkinson a few seasons ago, then gave him a 2 year deal last season which, I assumed, was them trying to show him commitment which would, in turn, get the best from him. I can't say I've ever been blown away by his performances and he likely just hasn't developed/ stepped up in the way the club hoped. It happens.

I don't think he's been treated poorly. Then again I'm happy to cede that none of us can really comment too heavily as we don't know what has been going on behind the scenes.