Former Connacht coach Glenn Ross could be on the move again. Having taken over the coaching reigns at English Premiership club Sale Sharks last year, Ross has now been moved upstairs at the club for the time being. The New Zealander will be in charge of all managerial and recruitment responsibilities for the immediate future.

His place as coach will be taken by 35-year-old Jim Mallinder who has made 289 appearances for the Sharks since his debut back in 1989, and earned two England caps on England's tour of Argentina in 1997. He was selected in the preliminary Lions squad to tour South Africa that year, but missed the final cut.

Mallinder's first act as coach was Saturday's trip to Rotherham for which he made three changes. Scotland scrum-half Bryan Redpath returned from Six Nations duty, with prop Adam Black and backrow man Apollo Perelini called up in the pack. Former Clontarf and Connacht hooker Bernard Jackman retained his place in the pack. Sale won 39-13.