Aironi adds firepower with new recruits Tyson Keats, Naas Olivier, and Luciano Orquera – Rugby news
Italian professional rugby union club, Aironi, has strengthened their squad ahead of their 2011/12 Magners League campaign with six new signings. Aironi President, Silvano Melegari, and Director of Rugby, Franco Tonni, announced the signing of the new players
at a press conference held in Stadio Zaffanella on June 1.
The most prominent new players for the club are Hurricanes’ scrum half Tyson Keats, Cheetahs’ fly half Naas Olivier and Italian international and CA Brive fly half Luciano Orquera.
Silvano Melegari has expressed the hopes that the players will help the club improve their overall performance during the next season Magners League and European season. Aironi finished at the bottom of the 2010/11 Magners League table registering just
one win and 12 points from their 22 matches in the season.
Klerksdorp born South African rugby union player, Naas, is currently representing the Cheetahs in the 2011 Super Rugby season. During last season, he made most of the opportunities provided to him by the club and has scored 241 Super Rugby points including
112 points he scored during the 2010 season.
The 29-year-old Naas is a utility back player and can perform at both scrum half and fly half positions. He also plays for his provincial side Griquas in the Currie cup.
Keats, who is currently serving a four-week ban after his dangerous tackle on Blues scrum half Alby Mathewson during a Super Rugby game, has agreed to move to the Northern Hemisphere after he failed to secure a permanent place in the Hurricanes regular side.
Commenting on the Keats inclusion in the side, Director of Rugby Franco Tonni, commented that he has a strong build and has pace that could help the club improve their performance in rucks.
The deal will allow the Argentinean born Luciano Orquera to return to Italy after playing in France for the last six years where he has played for FC Auch Gers in 2005/06, moving to CA Brive in 2006/07. He joined Auch during the 2005 and joined his last
club Brive at the start of 2006/07 season. The 30-year-old Orquera made his international debut against Canada in November 2004. He has made 22 international appearances and scored 37 points.
Additionally, Aironi has handed over professional contracts to three upcoming young Italian professional rugby league players Tommaso D'Apice, Ruggero Trevisan and Filippo Ferrarini. The men are expected to be the future of the club.
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