Sale have Spring in their step with two key additions
SALE will be boosted by Springbok power next season after signing Rob Du Preez and Akker van der Merwe.
Fly-half Du Preez will be re-joining the Sharks after the 2019 Super Rugby campaign concludes, having impressed while on a loan spell at the AJ Bell Stadium earlier this season.
Hooker Van der Merwe, who has been capped three times by South Africa and is nicknamed the Raging Warthog, will also join from Cell-C Sharks for the 2019/20 campaign.
Du Preez, 25, scored 81 points in just nine games for Steve Diamond’s men during his short stint earlier this season, and says now is the right time to make the switch permanent.
“I’m delighted to have signed for Sale and was very flattered when Dimes called and asked if I would consider joining the boys full-time in Manchester,” said Du Preez, who won the Currie Cup working under his father Robert Snr at the Durban-based Sharks.
“It was an extremely difficult decision to leave The Sharks and Durban, especially with the family connections I have here, but I feel as though it is the right time in my career for a new challenge, a change of scenery and feel I can continue to test myself in the Gallagher Premiership after the taster I had in 2018.”
Fellow Currie Cup winner Van der Merwe, meanwhile, burst onto the world scene in 2014 as a surprise inclusion in the Lions’ touring squad for the Super Rugby Season.
Making his debut against the Chiefs in Hamilton, he scored his first try for the Lions a week later against the Highlanders in Dunedin.
Following his debut season, he joined F French Top-14 outfit R Racing 92 on a shortte term contract before re returning to Johannesburg for the start of Super Rugby in 2016, notably helpin ing them reach the fi final of the competition alongside current Sale star Faf de Klerk.
After making 50 top-flight appearances for the Lions, in 2017 Van der Merwe joined the Durban-based Sharks where he has played alongside Rob and Jean-Luc du Preez.
“I feel the time is right in my career for a move away from South Africa,” said the 27-year-old.
“I have just started a family and after considering all my options with them, I feel this is the best one to take for us as a family. We are really excited about joining the club and experiencing a new lifestyle in Manchester.”
Director of Rugby Diamond delighted to have signed both men.
He said: “In order to really compete in the Premiership, you need to have two good options in most positions and we are specifically targeting forwards with our recruitment drive this year so I am delighted to announce the signing of Akker.
“He is a world-class player and he will be an excellent addition to the squad alongside Rob Du Preez.
“Rob came to us last year with an outstanding pedigree and impressed everybody here at Sale from day one.
“Rob is exactly the calibre of player we are looking for.” is