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Perpignan return to the European Rugby Challenge Cup after four seasons out of European competition when they host Sale Sharks on Friday night at Stade Aime Giral, live on beIN SPORTS.
- Perpignan have won both of their previous two Challenge Cup games against Sale Sharks in 1999/00.
- Perpignan are competing in European competition for the first time since 2014. Their last Challenge Cup appearance was a semi-final loss to Stade Francais Paris in the 2012/13 season.
- Sale lost all three of their away games last season in the Challenge Cup, including two games in France.
- Sale were the only side to make fewer than 100 carries per game last season, however they averaged 3.7 metres per carry, with only Bordeaux-Begles, Newcastle and Edinburgh Rugby averaging more.
- Perpignan’s Wandile Mjekevu featured in last season’s Challenge Cup with Toulouse, making 12 offloads overall, the most of any back and the second most behind Pau’s Malik Hamadache.
#SharksTV & @JamalNiaz caught up with Dimes this week…
We got the low down on the season so far, The return of @fafdeklerk and what to expect in Perpignan this weekend!#SharkTime #SharksByNature pic.twitter.com/g8kFBxtd5z
— Sale Sharks🦈 (@SaleSharksRugby) October 9, 2018
Sale Sharks' Byron McGuigan evaded the tackle of David Mele for his third try of the evening.
Perpignan’s return to the European Rugby Challenge Cup ended in a 41-24 defeat against Sale Sharks at Stade Aime Giral on Friday evening.
Byron McGuigan opened the scoring with a sixth-minute try for Sale before the French side hit back on 17 minutes through Pierre Lucas.
The game turned minutes later after Perpignan hooker Manu Leiataua was sent off for foul play and Sale soon took advantage through tries from Rob Webber and Rohan Janse van Rensburg.
FT: A Byron McGuigan hat-trick helps @SaleSharksRugby beat 14-man @usap_officiel 41-24
Perfect start to #ChallengeCupRugby for the Sharks 🦈 pic.twitter.com/9XbOnHlroO
— Challenge Cup (@ERChallengeCup) October 12, 2018
The boot of Jonathan Bousquet kept Perpignan in the match as he peppered the Sale posts with successful penalty kicks but the visitors would extend their lead just before the hour mark when Luke James dotted down.
McGuigan scored two further tries to complete a delightful hat-trick and bring up a bonus point victory for the visitors despite Genesis Mamea diving over for a late Perpignan consolation try.
Sale Sharks will host Connacht Rugby at the AJ Bell Stadium in Round 2 while Perpignan will travel to face Bordeaux-Begles at Stade Chaban-Delmas next weekend.
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