KINGSLEY Jones put his trust in the blazing British summer yesterday - and got soaked to the skin.

The Sharks coach strolled out for training in T-shirt and shorts and was pounded by the rain for an hour and half yesterday morning as he took the Sale pack through their paces with, for the first time this summer, a ball in hand.

Coaching supremo Philippe Saint-Andre worked with the backs and was also pleased with the way things went.

Jones said: "It's typical. Nick Johnston and his team had all the sun for fitness and conditioning and the minute we move in the rain comes down.

"But the players have worked well, and everything is going to plan. We ran through all the calls and just got back into the swing of things really.

"Hopefully the weather will pick up when we go on tour at the end of the week."

Sharks start their tour of France by playing Perpignan, followed by a game against Beziers.

Tough

They round the tour off with a match against Biarritz to mark the opening of the French side's new stadium.

Jones added: "We have pencilled in the teams for the first two games, but it is up to the players to win their place in the Biarritz game.

"The Perpignan game will be a tough opener. We beat them quite convincingly last season, and they weren't happy.

"They will be looking to get things right this time.

"Beziers are a good side but they are a division below so we will be looking to use players like David Blair and Mike Hills to see what they can do.

"And Biarritz won't want to lose the first game at their new stadium so you can bank on a big game there."

It has been a tough time for the Sharks management team as players returned in stages.

About one-third of the side are ready to face Perpignan with another group halfway through their training programme.

A final group including Richard Wigglesworth and Chris Jones only returned to training yesterday morning.

Jones said: "It hasn't been easy managing these different groups of players, but we hope to be ready for the opening game of the season against Leicester."