London Broncos sign Italian international

London Broncos have signed Australian-born Italian international Ethan Natoli, subject to obtaining a work visa.

The 27-year-old Sydney-based utility player – who can play as a loose forward, second row and centre – will jet in from down under to link up with the Broncos squad for pre-season.

Natoli has made seven appearances for Italy and most recently represented Newtown Jets in the NSW Cup. Now, he’s preparing for his first campaign in London and said he can’t wait to get going.

“I’m so pleased to have signed for the Broncos,” said Natoli, fresh from his World Cup campaign with Italy. “It’s a great club in a historic city with a fantastic culture – I can’t wait to get started.

“I’ve never visited or played in London before, but I’m used to the city life coming from Sydney – so it shouldn’t take too long to adjust to my new surroundings.

“My Italian team-mates Dean [Parata] and Ronny [Palumbo] have really enjoyed their time at the club which was great to hear. I’m excited to be part of the Broncos journey and hope we can get some good results next season.”

Director of rugby and performance Mike Eccles shared Natoli’s enthusiasm, adding that he will be a great asset to the club.

He said: “Ethan is a great addition to our squad, and we’re delighted to have him onboard. He’s a hard-working player who runs hard too and we’re very excited to get him engrained in the squad during pre-season.

“Ethan is a solid utility player who is equally at home as a loose forward, second row and centre. That versatility is great for us, and we wish Ethan a successful time with the club.”