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'Tenacious' De Klerk set to join Sale

By Harry West
South Africa scrum-half Faf de Klerk

Faf de Klerk will join Sale Sharks from next season as the Premiership club look to replace Mike Phillips at scrum-half.

Phillips hung up his boots - adorned with the words 'I did it my way' for his final game - after Sale's 27-24 win over Bath on Saturday.

And on Monday, Sale announced the impending arrival of South Africa international De Klerk from Super Rugby outfit Lions on a three-year deal.

"I am made up that Faf has decided to join us next season," said Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond.

"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."

Since making his Springboks debut against Ireland in June last year, De Klerk has made 11 international appearances.

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