Faf de Klerk

Springbok scrum-half Faf de Klerk joined Sale Sharks on a three year contract from Super Rugby side Golden Lions at the start of the 2017-18 Premiership Rugby season.

In his first season at the club, the 29 year old made 25 appearances and scored 97 points and that form led to a call-up to the South Africa squad for the 2018 summer home test series against England.

After three exceptional performances against England, Faf appeared for his country in the Rugby Championship in November 2018, where the South Africans gained a notable victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand.

Faf’s consistency and form for club and country over the 2017-18 season eventually led to a nomination for World Player of the Year, with the young scrum-half losing out to Johnny Sexton at the final hurdle.

Faf was selected as the starting scrum-half for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan and led the Springboks to their third World Cup victory beating England and Sharks team-mates Tom Curry and Mark Wilson in the final. Prior to the World Cup, the talismanic playmaker signed a contract to keep him at the club until 2023.

Speaking about Faf, fellow Springbok Rohan Janse van Rensburg said: “With Faf every game is different, and he is a pocket rocket and a special player.

“He has the ability and vision to see things when it comes to kick pressure and has a real feel for situations.

“Mike Forshaw gives Faf the freedom to do that – get out of the line and put the opposition under pressure. He has that freedom to do that whenever he wants and when it works out it is lovely for us.”

In June 2021 Faf was one of five Sale Sharks players to be named in the Springbok squad for the series against the British and Irish Lions.