Darlington Mowden Park RFC - Delighted With New Signings

Darlington Mowden Park RFC have started their summer recruitment by signing Italian back row Luca Petillo and Argentinian scrum Half Bruno Bravo.

26 year Old Luca joins us from Italian side Cavalieri Prato in the Italian Super 10 competition and will look to battle his way into a competitive back row. Luca has been involved in the European challenge Cup with Cavalieri in 2010 and has 3 Italy ‘A’ Caps to his name as well as previously being Italy U21 & U19’s Captain.

“I am really happy to have received the opportunity to join Darlington Mowden Park. I know the club have a great project in place and I will be giving my absolute best to demonstrate that I have the ability to make a real difference for the team.

"The move to England will be my first experience playing club rugby overseas. I know it will be a very big challenge on and off the field but I am ready to give my best and I cannot wait to get started. The country is known as the birthplace of rugby and so for me there is no better place to challenge myself away from my home country,” said Luca prior to his arrival.

Bruno is a 26 year old scrum half who last year was plying his trade in the Championship with Doncaster Knights. In 2013/14 Bruno won the Supporters Player of the Season Award and has international honours with Argentina as a sevens player. At His previous club San Albano, Bruno won Player of the Year 3 times on the bounce in 2010, 2011 and 2012 before his move to the UK.

Bruno said of his move to the Darlington Arena, “I am really excited to be joining Darlington Mowden Park. I cannot wait to join my new teammates and begin my journey with the club. Having visited the club at the end of the season I was immediately impressed by the quality facilities and the coaching staff's rugby ethos and the attacking style of rugby they are looking to promote. I know the club have been on the rise for some time now and it was clear to see the ambition is there to continue to push the club forward."

"I will be working hard to prove myself to the coaching staff and to the supporters and I will be doing all I can to earn my place in the team."

"I hope to be able to use my experience playing Championship rugby this past season and the skills I have developed since I first started playing rugby back home in Argentina in order to help the club achieve their goals for the 2015/16 season.”

John Newton, Head Coach said “We are delighted to have secured both Luca and Bruno who we believe will bring experience and ability to an already good squad. Luca is a big ball carrying threat who like to get involved both with ball in hand and defensively. Bruno on the other hand is a fast, strong and niggly scrum Half who will no doubt be a great link but also a threat with his elusive footwork. We are very much looking forward to working with both lads as they arrive for pre-season next week”.