Sale today responded to the confirmation that their director of rugby Philippe Saint-André will be joining Toulon next season by putting his former assistant Kingsley Jones in full charge of all playing matters for the rest of the Guinness Premiership campaign.

The Sharks had already announced that Jones would succeed Saint-André in the summer, but they have now brought the Welshman's promotion forward.

"The board of Sale Sharks has already announced that Kingsley Jones is to become director of rugby at the end of this season, but believe that the time is now right for Kingsley to assume overall responsibility for the senior squad as part of an orderly and smooth handover from Philippe to Kingsley," a club statement read.

"Philippe will stay at the club until the end of the season and will remain an integral and important part of our rugby management team. Philippe will support Kingsley in all areas and will continue to work with the club to achieve the goal of a second Guinness Premiership Championship."

Jones will therefore take charge of the team officially for the first time in Saturday's rearranged Premiership game at Worcester, when the Sharks will be without Luke McAlister, their New Zealand playmaker who has returned home for a fortnight for personal reasons – a trip that was arranged when Sale were due to have next weekend off.