SALE Sharks have announced the signing of South Africa international Faf de Klerk.

The Springbok scrum-half joins the Premiership club on a three-year deal.

De Klerk, aged 25, has made 11 appearances for South Africa since his international debut in 2016 and has been described as a world-class signing by Sharks’ 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 and Jono Ross..

“He is tenacious with a fantastic workrate – 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 lever 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.”