SALE Sharks came nose to fin with the real thing last week to celebrate a new sponsorship deal.

The rugby union club has teamed up SEA LIFE Manchester for a 2017 sponsorship deal and to celebrate some of some of the players met a collection of their namesakes at the Trafford Centre.

On Wednesday November 9, signing Byron McGuigan and ‘Young Player of the Year’ Sam James took a day off from training to meet Trafford’s very own shiver of Black Tip Reef Sharks.

Jenn McDonough, general manager at SEA LIFE Manchester, said: “The whole team at SEA LIFE Manchester is really excited about our 2016 – 2017 season sponsorship of Manchester’s Sale Sharks. It is really important for us to able to support local businesses, enterprises and teams, especially after the months of training and preparation a team like Sale Sharks goes through.”

The players tested their courage and prowess against the ocean’s strongest predator in the tank. Catch them in full swing facing off against old rivals Saracens, at the AJ stadium on Saturday, November 20.

Mark Cueto, Sale Sharks’ commercial director, said: “We’d like to thank the team at SEA LIFE Manchester for a great day. The players were made to feel really welcome and the event was a fantastic opportunity to mark the beginning of what we know will be a fantastic partnership.”