Faf de Klerk not available for Springboks’ year-end tour to Europe

Sale Sharks have confirmed that scrumhalf Faf de Klerk will not be available for the Springboks’ year-end tour to Europe.

“He was released to play for his country in the Rugby Championship, but no provision was made for next month’s tour,” Sale confirmed via an e-mail.

 The Guardian reported that a deal was struck between Sale and SA Rugby that allows the club to keep the player throughout November.

"We didn’t see the benefit of bringing him back during the break weeks, so he’ll come back to us after the Rugby Championship," Sale's director of rugby Steve Diamond said.

The Boks face England outside of the official international window on November 3 before taking on France (November 10), Scotland (November 17) and Wales (November 24).