Sale Sharks stumbled in the 2025-26 season, securing just two wins from their opening three games before a 65-14 loss to Saracens exposed vulnerabilities. A shocking 27-26 home defeat to Exeter Chiefs in November marked the beginning of a downhill spiral, with the club losing more home games than won at The Stoop—a venue typically a defensive stronghold. Injuries crippled their core, including England internationals Tom Curry, Ben Curry, and Tom Roebuck, while coaching instability—with Marco Bortolami departing in December and Byron McGuigan leaving for an England role—disrupted team cohesion.

Despite a brief resurgence with a win over Harlequins, Sale collapsed against Gloucester and Newcastle Red Bulls, finishing with a top-eight finish but lacking the edge of prior campaigns.