South Africa scrum-half Faf de Klerk is waiting to find out if he will require surgery on a hip injury that would rule him out of the Springboks tour of Europe. 

Sale Sharks director of rugby, Alex Sanderson confirmed that De Klerk had undergone scans on a hip problem he initially sustained playing for the world champions in the second Test of the Lions series.

The 29-year-old returned to play four matches for the Springboks in the Rugby Championship but Sale are awaiting the results of a scan to determine the extent of the injury.

De Klerk played 66 minutes in the dramatic win over the All Blacks on October 2nd but has now emerged as a doubt for the games against Wales, Scotland and England in November.

"Faf is currently undergoing assessment for his hip-flexor injury which was sustained in the Lions Test and has become more severe recently but we need to get clarity on that," Sanderson said.

"There are concerns that it could be months but we need confirmation.

"We have to wait for the right assessments, otherwise it is scaremongering, and we have had all the scans sent over.

"They are with the consultant in London right now and we have all his previous reports.

"They want to see it all before they make a decision about rehab, surgery or crack on.

"Those are three options but we haven’t had the decision yet.

"I am speculating as a rugby coach and it is frustrating when someone comes back injured, but surely there can’t be any coaches or organisations out there that set out to deliberately injure people.

"I don’t believe that is the case."

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