Stay here, Sharks plead with Boks star De Klerk

SALE SHARKS want to sit down with Springboks scrum-half Faf de Klerk to discuss an extension of his contract at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond has already sounded out de Klerk, right, about extending his stay in Manchester beyond the end of next season.

A number of Premiership clubs, including Gloucester, are sniffing around de Klerk who was on the short list for World Player of the Year for his displays for South Africa before missing out to Johnny Sexton.

The 27-yearold joined the Sharks in May 2017 on a threeyear deal to become one of the best paid players in the Premiership. De Klerk will be offered a healthy pay rise to stay. The Sharks would like to add another couple of seasons to his deal and are hoping to get an answer early in the New Year.