Sale Sharks have signed South Africa international scrum-half Faf de Klerk on a three-year deal for next season.

At 25 de Klerk has made 11 appearances for South Africa since his international debut in 2016 and has been described as a ‘world-class signing’ by Sharks’ director of rugby Steve Diamond.

“I am made up that Faf has decided to join us next season,” said Diamond, who recently announced the recruitment of Scotland international Josh Strauss and Jono Ross.

“He is tenacious with a fantastic workrate – 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.”

De Klerk will step into the shoes of Wales international scrum-half Mike Phillips, who announced that he will retire at the end of this season following a year -ong stint at Sale Sharks.

He joins Sale Sharks from South African Super Rugby team the Lions, after helping the club reach their first ever Super Rugby final last season.

Six Sale Sharks players in England training squad

Ben Curry, Tom Curry, Ross Harrison, Mike Haley, Sam James and Denny Solomona have been called up to an England training camp.

A total of 20 players will assemble at the Lensbury Hotel in Teddington for strength and conditioning sessions this week with England facing the Barbarians on May 28 before playing two Tests against Argentina in June.