Bok hooker Akker van der Merwe has signed with English club, the Sale Sharks, until 2022.

Earlier on Monday, Sale confirmed the signing of Rob du Preez on a similar long-term deal, before then unveiling that Van der Merwe would also be heading to the AJ Bell Stadium at the conclusion of this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby competition.

NEW SIGNING | Sale Sharks are delighted to announce the signing of @Akker_vd_Merwe for the 19/20 #GallagherPrem Season!

Read more here 👉 https://t.co/NFFcxGFvBl#SharkByName #SharkByNature @UKFast pic.twitter.com/cS2cUiGquG

— Sale Sharks🦈 (@SaleSharksRugby) February 25, 2019

‘I feel the time is right in my career for a move away from South Africa. I have just started a family and after considering all my options with them, I feel this is the best one to take for us as a family,’ Van der Merwe said.

‘I am good mates with Faf de Klerk and having spoken with him, he only has good things to say about Sale so we are really excited about joining the club and experiencing a new lifestyle in Manchester.’

Bok prop Steven Kitshoff is another player who has been strongly linked with a move to Sale, while the Du Preez twins, Dan and Jean-Luc, are expected to take up short-term deals with the English club too.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images