Sale Sharks eyeing up South African quintet - reports

According to reports in South Africa, Sale Sharks could soon be about to add to the growing South African contingent at the club.

Talismanic scrum-half Faf de Klerk recently signed a contract extension with the club from the north-west, whilst they also have Jono Ross, Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Josh Strauss on their books, as well as having recently played host to short-term moves for brothers Robert and Jean-Luc du Preez.

Sale are one of the Gallagher Premiership clubs whose recruiting power will be most boosted by the upcoming CVC investment, unlike the teams that have been consistently paying up to the salary cap in recent seasons, and it seems they are ready to make a splash.

Netwerk24 are reporting that the two du Preez brothers, as well as Jean-Luc’s twin, Dan, are all on Sale’s radar, as well as hooker Akker van der Merwe and Stormers loosehead Steven Kitshoff.

Kitshoff, 26, was one of the key figures behind the Springboks’ recent resurgence and ended the southern hemisphere season as the number one ranked loosehead in Super Rugby and The Rugby Championship, with an RPI score of 81.

In Johannesburg, van der Merwe, 27, was an impressive foil for Malcolm Marx, regularly spelling the Springbok and Lions starter from the bench, where his strong ability in the loose often helped the Lions finish off sides at the Super Rugby level. He made the move to the Sharks last season and found a more regular route to games with that franchise than he did with the Lions.

The three du Preez brothers all also ply their trade in Durban with the Sharks, although Jean-Luc is reported to have picked up an injury with Sale that will keep him out of contention for the beginning of the Super Rugby season next month. Both Robert and Jean-Luc impressed during their time with Sale and the pair, as well as brother Dan, are also being chased by Leicester Tigers, per RugbyPass sources.

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