ICYMI: Faf de Klerk, Lood de Jager to leave Sale Sharks

English Premiership club Sale Sharks have confirmed that 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok duo Faf de Klerk and Lood de Jager will be leaving at the end of the season.

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Faf de Klerk’s international career had stalled until his stellar form at Sale propelled him back into Springboks selection and he has been first-choice scrumhalf ever since.

Faf de Klerk joined from the Lions, Lood de Jager from the Bulls

The 30-year-old has made 95 appearances for the northwest club since joining from the Lions in 2017, scoring 14 tries and 39 conversions in his 241 points for the club. 

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𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗙𝗔𝗙 🙏

What a time to be alive. 🤯

How good has it been watching this bloke flourish into an all-time great whilst representing #YourSharks? 🙌

Thanks for everything Faf and good luck in the future! #SharksFamily | @FranklynFM1 pic.twitter.com/Ynmvtnoo5D

— Sale Sharks 🦈 (@SaleSharksRugby) April 5, 2022

Lood de Jager, 29, has played 25 times for the club, scoring three tries, since he joined from the Bulls after the 2019 World Cup. 

𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗗 🙏

What a time it's been having such an influential bloke representing the Sharks. 🙌

We would like to wish Lood every success for the future, and thank him for his contribution to the club over the past few seasons! 🦈#SharksFamily pic.twitter.com/c4WOQF5kFJ

— Sale Sharks 🦈 (@SaleSharksRugby) April 5, 2022

Both players played in their country’s third World Cup victory in 2019, with De Klerk starting at scrumhalf and De Jager in the second row in the final against England.

Faf de Klerk is reportedly set to join Japanese side NTT Docomo Red, while Lood de Jager is expected to return to South Africa.

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The Sale Sharks slipped out of Gallagher Premiership playoff contention with their 18-12 defeat by Saracens last time out, leaving the Heineken Champions Cup as the Springbok duo’s last chance of winning any major silverware at the club.

“Everyone at Sale Sharks would like to thank Faf and Lood for their huge contribution to the club over the past five years and we wish them all the very best for the future,” Sale said in a statement.

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