Publications
Partners
Cape Town - English club Sale Sharks on Monday announced the signing of Springbok and Lions scrumhalf Faf de Klerk.
Sale announced via their official website that the 25-year-old will be joining them on a three-year deal.
The signing comes after a report emerged last month that the Sale Sharks had offered De Klerk a three-year deal worth R21m.
De Klerk has made 11 appearances for the Springboks since his international debut in 2016 and has been described as a world class signing by Sale’s director of rugby, Steve Diamond.
"I am made up that Faf has decided to join us next season," said Diamond, who recently announced the recruitment of Scotland international Josh Strauss, as well as former Bulls loose forward Jono Ross.
"He is tenacious with a fantastic work rate - he dictates the tempo and direction of the game and I think he will fit in well both with our style of play, and with a young, ambitious squad.
"He's an unbelievable ball-carrier, has a solid kicking game and he is exciting around the pitch. He sees the weakness in his opposition and can leverage this to his advantage. He's young but has massive experience and this will be crucial in helping us to build on the foundations we have put in place this year."
De Klerk will step into the shoes of Welsh international scrumhalf Mike Phillips, who announced that he will retire at the end of the current European season, following a year-long stint at Sale.
Diamond said securing De Klerk's signature was largely down to Sale Sharks co-owners Simon Orange and Ged Mason.
"Simon and Ged are intent on making Sale Sharks one of the leading clubs in the Premiership. Faff has the vision to see where the club is heading and wants to be part of it.
"This signing as well as the signings of Josh Strauss and Jono Ross will help us collectively achieve our desire to be a top of the table team. I'm sure there will be a lot of excitement in the AJ Bell Stadium come our first home game of next season."
