Up & Under: Sale consider kick-off switch in attempt to boost crowds

Sale could switch off Friday night lights Sale are considering moving their home matches to the weekend, in an attempt to increase attendances at Edgeley Park, and supporters will have a say in any decision. The Sharks have set up an online survey which will put forward five start times: Friday night, Saturday afternoon or evening and Sunday afternoon or evening. A problem for Sale is that they attract crowds of between 6,000 and 8,000 whenever they play. This season's high in the Premiership, 8,646, came against Saracens on a Sunday, while the lowest, 6,016, turned out on a Friday in September to see Harlequins. "I think the case for Friday may be far less compelling than it used to be, for a variety of factors," said Sale's chief executive, Mick Hogan. "We genuinely do want to be the club of the north west. But can you say you are truly a club of the region if many fans can't make it on a Friday? "I am not trying to pre-determinate this as Friday does hold distinct benefits. By playing on a Saturday or Sunday we are potentially ruling out people who take part in the game. There's also far less competition with other sports on a Friday, especially through the winter. We will be listening to our lapsed fans as well as our regular ones and will be making a decision fairly quickly." The Sale lock Chris Jones looks set to join Worcester, who have lost Graham Kitchener, probably to Leicester. Worcester are also set to sign the Wales prop Ceri Jones from Harlequins. Benefit of the doubt? The Bath head coach, Steve Meehan, made an interesting point after Tom Voyce's late, video-confirmed try denied his side a bonus and earned one for Gloucester on Saturday. "You never get to speak to the Television Match Official," said Meehan, "but it was an interesting decision of his. There seems to be a few of these now. You've got to be absolutely certain before you start awarding tries, I think. It's worth clearing up. My feeling is that it is going the way of when in doubt, award the try." Rugby league officially gives the benefit of the doubt to the attacking side – is union doing the same unofficially? Clubs seal rights deal News to interest for those who while away their hours watching collections of old tries and tackles on the internet – Premier Rugby has signed an exclusive rights management deal with MyVideoRights, "the UK's leading digital rights management agency". The deal gives MyVideoRights – its chief executive is Ashley McKenzie, the son of the former Sun editor Kelvin – the right to distribute and control official Premier Rugby footage on websites such as YouTube, Metacafe and DailyMotion. Jon Varney, Premier Rugby's commercial director, welcomed the chance to "provide consumers with our legitimate, high-quality coverage".