ON THE BLINDSIDE
Bordeaux have moved to take Sale Shark No.8 Dan du Preez to the Top 14 next season despite him having a year left to run on his deal with the Premiership outfit.
Blindside reported last week that Dan and twin brother Jean-Luc were on the shopping list for French clubs when their contracts run out at the end of next sea son.
But Bordeaux have jumped to the front of the queue of clubs wanting to sign Dan, and the exodus of Springboks from the AJ Bell this summer shows no sign of stopping.
JP du Preez has departed to Glasgow, Faf de Klerk to Yokohama Canon Eagles, Rohan Janse van Rensburg to the Cell C Sharks, while Japan's Panasonic Wild Knights have snapped up Lood de Jager.
It will be another massive blow to Sharks boss Alex Sanderson if Dan is next through the exit door because flanker Jean-Luc is likely to want to join him at Les Girondins.
Bordeaux finished third in the Top 14 last season and are looking to replace French international Cameron Woki, who is heading to Racing 92 next season and would have to pay a fee for Du Preez.
Meanwhile, Sale could be without flyhalf George Ford until well into the New Year with the Achilles tendon injury that he suffered in the Premiership Final.
Sanderson is still weighing up his options, looking at who is available to stand in for Ford, the club's big-name signing, while he battles back to fitness.
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