SALE Sharks, pipped at the post for a place in the Heineken Cup, will face Sicilian side Catania in the first round of the Parker Pen Cup, the secondary European competition they won three years ago.

The first leg will be played on the Italian island on October 22, with the return leg at Edgeley Park the following weekend.

Orrell, who have lost most of their star players from last season following the decision of Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors' supremo Dave Whelan to limit his backing for the rugby union club, have started the process of recruiting.

Dave Wilks, the Manchester back row, will join his brother Richard Wilks, while centre Chris Briers, who has been playing for Sale Jets, has also joined along with another former Jet, fly-half Warren Spragg, from Wakefield.

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