NEW Sale Sharks skipper Dean Schofield is banking on family fortunes to help the Edgeley Park side reassert their place among English rugby's elite.

The genial giant has been handed the captain's armband in succession to the departed Jason Robinson and will lead the Sharks in what may be a watershed campaign for the club.

The 2006 Guinness Premiership champions saw their hopes of a successful title defence last season ripped apart by a succession of serious injuries to key players and even skirted with relegation before finishing the campaign in tenth place.

Their misery was compounded by a group stage knockout in the Heineken Cup along with failure to qualify for this season's European showpiece.

So the stakes couldn't be higher as second row star Schofield assumes the responsibility of looking to lead a revival in the Sharks' fortunes.

But the 27-year-old believes the special close-knit bond developed among the Sale players can prove to be a key factor in their quest for success.

"I think we're very lucky at Sale in that so many of our guys have come up through the ranks," said Schofield.

Family

"In many ways, we're like a family. We've all progressed together, we all get on really well and look out for each other and I'd like to think that can give us an edge on some of our opponents.

"Getting the captaincy was a huge, unexpected honour but I'm not going to change. The lads would pick that up so I'm just going to be myself.

"I've always been quite a down-to-earth person and I like to think I've always had respect off the lads for the way I play and the way I handle myself. Hopefully that sort of attitude can rub off on the other guys."

On a personal level, Schofield's career trajectory has been on an upward curve since he moved to Sale from Aldwinians in 2001 and reached a new pinnacle earlier this summer when he earned his first England cap during the summer tour to South Africa.

And though Brian Ashton's men were on the wrong end of two heavy Test defeats, having had a taste of what international rugby has to offer, Schofield admits he is hungry for more.

"Going on tour to South Africa and playing for England was a fantastic experience," Schofield adds. "And of course, having pulled on the shirt I'd love to repeat the experience.

"But I'm under no illusions as to how hard that will be. England have a hell of a lot of really good second rowers. My main priority has to be to play well for Sale and to try to be a good captain for the club.

"Anything that follows from that will be a bonus."

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