Italian job for Sale Sharks

Sale Sharks have announced a partnership with home furniture business Arighi Bianchi which has seen the transformation of the team’s training room.

As part of the deal, the interior design team from the fourth-generation family business has refurnished the room at Sharks’ Carrington, Greater Manchester training ground.

Winners of a competition also watched Sale Sharks’ recent hard fought victory over Northampton Saints from the comfort of a luxurious Arighi Bianchi sofa, placed just outside the club’s C&C Insurance Hospitality Suite.

Nick Bianchi, Arighi Bianchi commercial director, said: “Being able to bring fans closer to the squad through insightful and fun video interviews in the team room is a brilliant initiative.

“We will also continue to take it further with the ‘best seat in the house’ competitions, where fans witness Steve Diamond’s men taking on and hopefully beating the very best the Premiership has to offer from an Arighi Bianchi sofa. We’re looking forward to supporting the boys through the rest of the season.”

Arighi Bianchi’s landmark store opened in Macclesfield in 1892, 38 years after Antonio Arighi had walked to Cheshire on foot from the shores of Lake Como and set up shop making clocks.

Sale Sharks commercial director Mark Cueto said: “The ‘instant fit’ between us and Arighi Bianchi is what makes this partnership a particularly exciting one.

“It helps that they are a company with a fantastic history and also one with such pedigree.”