Aviva Premiership Rugby Football Union club the Sale Sharks has announced the signing of Italian international prop player Alberto de Marchi on a contract of two years with the player turning out for the club at the end of the season.
The 28 year old, who was a part of the Italian national team in the recently concluded Six Nations Championship and played all five matches for the Italians during the competition and will be a direct replacement for the club’s England international front rower Henry Thomas who will be moving to Bath Rugby at the end of the season.
Steve Diamond, the Director of Rugby of Sale Sharks hailed the signing of the Italian as a coup for the club and the growing ambitions it has been displaying this season, adding that they had to fight off stiff competition from European champions Toulon to capture the player from his Italian club Treviso.
Diamond mentioned that Alberto had a great Six Nations Championship for Italy and was their standout player in the tournament which brought him to the attention of several European heavyweights. He also mentioned that he doesn’t have any doubts that he will prove to be a great asset for the club in the future.
The legendary boss mentioned that the player is a great scrummager, very mobile and he is found all over the pitch and moreover, his defensive skills are beyond any doubt and the club is delighted to have him on board.
The Italian has turned out 17 times for his national team and he will be one of a host of new signings for the new season by the Sale Sharks as they prepare for an assault on home and European fronts after a brilliant season already in the domestic competition this time around.