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.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here