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Watch: Sale sign 'big, dynamic' Russian international prop with pace to burn
By Nathaniel Cope
Sale Sharks have signed pacy Russian loosehead prop Valery Morozov from Enesei-STM.
The 24-year-old has 15 Russian caps, and last played for his country alongside long-serving Sale lock Andrei Ostrikov against Japan in November.
That match took place at Gloucester’s Kingsholm, with Japan edging it 32-27 and Morozov’s performance may have helped convince Steve Diamond.
Morozov is 1.9 metres tall and weighs 118kgs. He will link up with the Gallagher Premiership club at Carrington in the New Year.
Morozov is ranked as the 27th-best loosehead in international rugby in the RugbyPass Index, with an overall RPI score of 68. His leading figure is his scrum score, 77.
Morozov certainly captured the attention of would-be suitors with a brilliant 80-metre solo try (below) for Enesei-STM in a European Rugby Continental Shield match last season, demonstrating some serious power and pace.
https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanRugbyChampionsCup/videos/1679759045412904/
Morozov would help Enesei-STM go on to lift that trophy by beating Heidelberger RK 24-20 in the Continental Shield final in Gexto, Spain last May to make it back-to-back titles.
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Sale Sharks’ Director of Rugby Steve Diamond said, “Andrei Ostrikov and Vadim Cobilas first made me aware of Valery’s abilities, and we kept a watch on him for the past twelve months whilst he was playing for Enesei.
“He’s a big, dynamic, scrummaging prop and front row players with his skill set are few and far between.
“We look forward to welcoming him to Carrington on 2nd January to bolster our options in the front row as we move into 2019.
The move will be a boost to Russia coach Lyn Jones, who’ll have another of his squad testing themselves at a higher level ahead of the Rugby World Cup. Russia are in Pool A with Ireland, Scotland, hosts Japan and Samoa.
Watch: Rugby World Cup Japan city guide – Kumamoto
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