Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk has revealed that he was one of the 27 Sale Sharks players who tested positive for coronavirus last season.

Speaking to the Telegraph, De Klerk opened up on his experience of Covid-19 after confirming that he was among the players who tested positive when the Sale Sharks squad were hit by an outbreak towards the end of last season.

The outbreak of Covid-19 ultimately cost the Sale Sharks a place in the Premiership playoffs in October as their final-round match against the Worcester Warriors was called off.

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Ahead of the start of the 2020-21 Premiership campaign this weekend, De Klerk said he was one of those worse affected by the virus, but also insisted that he has fully recovered.

‘I was pretty bad. I had severe body aches and a fever for the first few days,’ De Klerk explained. ‘After that, I was a bit tired. I was probably one of the worst cases at the club but I’m all good now and feeling great.

‘I think I have had worse cases of flu, but the problem with it is that people get different symptoms, so you are just seeing what is going to happen.

‘I felt pretty bad for the first few days and a lot of family were maybe a bit scared of me being on my own and having it. But, in terms of not infecting anyone else, that was a good thing.’

De Klerk added that although his pre-season training has been affected, he was still grateful that he had the support the club and his fellow players while he recovered.

‘I was still getting paid, I was still in a privileged position,’ the 2019 World Cup winner said. ‘It was basically about getting through it. I had a lot of support from other players and the club, guys willing to come over to drop stuff off.’

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