SALE Sharks have signed of Georgian hooker Shalva Mamukashvili.

Director of rugby Steve Diamond said: “With the knee injury Tommy Taylor sustained playing for England against the Barbarians – keeping him out for six months – I decided to bring in a top class hooker to add to the squad.

"Shalva is the current Georgian starting hooker who is very abrasive and aggressive in defence.

"He speaks fluent English and will also have Vadim Cobilas and Andrei Ostrikov to help him settle in.

"We have applied for the necessary visa and work permit and hopefully all the formalities will be completed quickly.”

Shalva currently plays for Armia, Georgia. He was born in Tbilisi in 1990.