TRANSFER | Italian powerhouse makes move to the Gallagher Premiership - Ruck

TRANSFER | Italian powerhouse makes move to the Gallagher Premiership

Italy international Marco Fuser has signed for Newcastle Falcons -signing a two-year deal.

Capped 33 times by Italy, the 29-year-old joins from Pro 14 side Benetton Treviso.

The 6ft 6in lock played 119 times during his eight seasons with Treviso, including 22 Heineken Champions Cup games and a further 87 Pro14 appearances.

Making his international debut in 2012, Fuser last appeared for the Azzurri against New Zealand in 2018, and will now join up with Newcastle as they prepare for their return to the Gallagher Premiership.

Director of rugby Dean Richards said: “Marco has performed at a consistently high level for the best part of a decade, and will help bring that edge to our forward pack.

“He’s a real grafter who just gets on with the basics, and those are precisely the guys you need in that engine room.

“He’s a destructive tackler who enjoys the tighter aspects of the game, and it’s one of those important building blocks for us as we look to make an impact on our Gallagher Premiership return.”


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Italy’s Six Nations Dream XV (caps, percentage of vote won)

BACK-THREE

15. Andrea Masi (95 caps, 67.7%)

14. Matteo Minozzi (19 caps, 40%)

11. Giovanbattista Venditti (44 caps, 23.1%)

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the full-back is Andrea Masi, earning two-thirds of the vote as a reward for being named Six Nations Player of the Championship back in 2011.


CENTRES

13. Michele Campagnaro (36 caps, 48.9%)

12. Mirco Bergamasco (89 caps, 23.1%)

Almost 50% of outside centre votes went to the dynamic Michele Campagnaro, while Mirco Bergamasco edged out Gonzalo Canale for the No.12 jersey.


HALF-BACKS

10. Diego Dominguez (74 caps, 69.7%)

9. Alessandro Troncon (101 caps, 61.6%)

In the half-backs, the duo that combined to help beat Scotland in the first Six Nations match are reunited as Alessandro Troncon and the diminutive Diego Dominguez – who kicked 29 points that day in Rome and remains Italy’s top points scorer in the Championship – both received more than 60% of the vote.

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