Racing 92 have launched a shock transfer to interchange Saracens-bound former England captain Owen Farrell with Sale Sharks playmaker Rob Du Preez.
He may develop into the second of the three du Preez brothers to go away the North West this summer time after one in all his youthful siblings, Jean-Luc, accomplished a deal that may see him be part of Bordeaux.
Racing 92 are rebuilding after ending tenth within the Top 14 this season, however solely have one recognised fly-half, Antoine Gibert, following the departures of Farrell, Dan Lancaster to Glasgow Warriors and Tristan Tedder to Perpignan.
The Paris-based Prime 14 giants determined to maneuver for du Preez, 31, after struggling a blow when veteran Wallaby star James O’Connor turned down their method in favour of a transfer to Leicester Tigers as an alternative.
Racing have been taking a look at a number of choices, together with former Ulster, London Irish and Ireland star Paddy Jackson, however have determined that du Preez, one of many Premiership’s most constant performers, ticks the proper packing containers.
Du Preez, who gained his solely Springbok cap in an eight-minute cameo in opposition to Wales at Washington DC’s RFK Stadium in June 2017, has been an impressive servant to Sale.
His 74 consecutive begins is a Premiership report, and this season, he clocked up 1,520 minutes, which was solely bettered by Leicester Tigers duo, Ollie Hassell-Collins and Hanro Liebenburg.
The sturdy South African is because of be below contract to Sale till the top of subsequent season, however Racing, who’re flush with money from promoting Farrell and Siya Kolisi to URC outfit the Sharks, gained’t have any issues in shopping for him out of that.
If the deal does go forward, and Rob, who has been constructing a property portfolio within the UK, goes to Paris, it should go away Dan du Preez as the one one of many trio nonetheless on the membership subsequent season, though he’s recurrently been the topic of rumours linking him with a transfer to France.
