SALE Sharks have signed South African international centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg on a short-term loan deal.

Janse will remain with the club until February when he will return to South Africa for the 2018 Super Rugby season.

The 23-year-old began his professional career with the Blue Bulls in the 2013/14 season, making seven appearances and scoring four tries before moving to the Lions rugby set-up where he has also been a key figure for Golden Lions in their recent Currie Cup campaigns.

Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond is delighted to welcome the exciting young South African to the club and said: "Rohan is a powerful, highly abrasive centre and we are very happy that he will be joining up with us.

“He’s only 23 and I’m sure he will be an excellent addition to our squad.

“He was recommended by Faf De Klerk and Josh Strauss and everyone here is looking forward to welcoming Rohan to the club."

Meanwhile, coach Paul Deacon paid tribute to the growing maturity of the Sharks' young guns following Friday's hugely impressive 29-22 Anglo-Welsh Cup win against Saracens at the AJ Bell Stadium.

For the second week running, a largely inexperienced and youthful Sale side produced a fine all-round team performance as they fought back from a 19-13 half-time deficit to overcome the men in black.

As in last week's opening Anglo-Welsh win at Worcester a number of youngsters, including Cameron Redpath, Sam Moore, James Flynn and Luke James, all acquitted themselves admirably.

And Sharks attack coach Deacon, who again oversaw the preparations for the game in tandem with academy coach Neil Briggs, was full of praise for the way the next generation stood up to be counted.

"I thought the young kids did not look out of place one bit," said Paul. "When you think of the youth that was in that side, all credit to them and the academy coaches who have brought them through.

"They have all got level heads, they all know the game and they are not shy lads – they all talk but they are not over-confident as they are very grounded and I thought that showed.

"A handful of the lads don't even train with us full time – they have had to ask for time off school this week to come down and train which just shows how inexperienced they are.

"This experience will be invaluable for them as you only learn by playing. You can train as much as you want but when the heat comes on in games that's when you do your biggest learning and I am sure they have all learnt a lot."

A second successive victory ensured Sale very remain in the hunt for a potential semi-spot in the Anglo-Welsh Cup and maintained the Sharks' sense of momentum.