The Sale Sharks have announced the signing of Vodacom Bulls scrumhalf Embrose Papier on a short-term loan deal during the World Cup.

Papier has agreed to a three-month deal to provide cover for Faf de Klerk, who is on World Cup duty with the Springboks.

The 22-year-old made his Bok debut against Wales last year. He won eight caps since and looked set to go to the World Cup as the second-choice scrumhalf, but a stop-start year for the Bulls meant he lost his place in the squad to Herschel Jantjies and Cobus Reinach.

Papier will link up with Sale at Carrington this week in order to prepare with the squad ahead of the Sharks’ Premiership Rugby Cup campaign, commencing on Saturday, 21 September against Northampton Saints.

‘Embrose is a fantastic live-wire scrumhalf with a similar playing style to Faf de Klerk,’ Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond said. ‘His running, distribution and kicking skills are top class and he comes highly recommended to us from a number of our South African players.

‘We look forward to welcoming Embrose to Carrington in the next week or two and I believe he will be a great fit for us during the World Cup period.’

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