South Africa international Robert du Preez signs three-year deal with Sale Sharks

South Africa international Robert du Preez will be playing for the Gallagher Premiership club Sale Sharks for the 2019/20 season after signing a three-year deal.

The 25-year-old started his professional rugby career with provincial side Western Province in 2014 with his Super Rugby debut for the Stormers coming a year later. His switch to Sharks came in 2018 and represented Sale Sharks for the 2018/19 season on a loan stint.

He also enjoyed a Currie Cup win with C-Cell Sharks in 2018 and now will head to the AJ Bell Stadium full-time at the end of the 2019 Super Rugby season.

“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.

"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.

"The club have extremely high ambitions and with the calibre of signings that Sale are making I feel I can play a big part in the future of the club and can’t wait to get started in the UK.

"In the meantime, I am fully committed to the Cell-C Sharks here in South Africa and will give everything I have during this year’s Super Rugby season and hopefully build on last year’s win in the Currie Cup to produce some more special memories before I leave.”

Du Preez has made a solitary Test appearance for South Africa that came in June last year against Wales in Washington DC.