A MANCHESTER mattress company has teamed up with the North West’s only Premiership rugby team to provide a better night’s sleep for players.

Leesa UK is the latest addition to the line-up of corporate partners that are helping support rugby union club Sale Sharks and its players in their quest to achieve peak performance.

Testing the theory that sleep is connected to sporting performance is a scrum of Sale Sharks’ players, including New Zealand born Denny Solomona, a high-profile addition to the squad this year, and David Seymour, Sharks’ longest serving player with 190 match appearances for the premiership rugby team.

Former English international rugby union player Mark Cueto MBE, now Sale Sharks’ commercial director, said: “To have Leesa UK on board at Sale Sharks is a fantastic addition to our corporate partner list.

“The importance of a good night’s sleep before a big game cannot be underestimated, and the overall effect of sleep quality on players’ training and performance is critical.

“Sleep plays a major role in ensuring the players are fully prepared mentally and physically for each fixture. A lower quality of sleep increases the possibility of fatigue, lower energy levels, and poor focus. It may also slow recovery post-game.

“Whether you’re a professional rugby player or not, getting the proper amount of sleep is necessary to face the world with your best food forward.”

Leesa UK, which is a subsidiary of Virginia-based Leesa Sleep, manufactures premium mattresses in the UK with a head office based in Manchester city centre.

The partnership between Leesa UK and Sale Sharks comes hot on the heels of Leesa Sleep’s work with gold-winning US Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and US Olympic gymnast gold medallist Aly Raisman, who both count good sleep amongst the key ingredients for success as a world-class athlete.

Commenting on the new sponsorship, Managing Director for Leesa UK Richard Tucker, said: “We are delighted to support Sale Sharks by helping their players get the very best night’s sleep possible.

“As a company, we are heavily invested in the connection between sleep and achieving human potential.

“It’s great that our partnership with Sale Sharks not only brings together two Manchester-based organisations, but there will also be lots of opportunity for the Leesa team to visit Sale Sharks’ AJ Bell Stadium and get first-hand feedback from the players, which is a huge bonus for us.”

Sale Sharks play their penultimate home game of the season on April 7 against Worcester Warriors.