ZIMBABWEAN utility back Garth Ziegler has been signed by top Italian rugby club Venezia Mestre Rugby Club.The Venice-based club plays in the Italian Super 10, the country’s premier rugby league. They were Serie A champions in 2005 and 2007.
“It’s exciting,” said Ziegler, who is set to fly out of Harare on Sunday. “It’s a good opportunity to settle into the European club scene. Italian rugby is definitely on the rise. They are getting a lot of foreign players from South Africa, Australia, Argentina and other countries. There is a lot of money getting into the club scene and the league is getting a lot more competitive.”There has been an increased influx of foreign players into the French and Italian rugby leagues in recent years mainly due to the lure of the Euro.The 22-year-old Ziegler, a former St Johns College student in Harare, was previously based at the academy of Australia’s Super 14 franchise, Western Force. He plays wing, outside centre or fullback.Ziegler does not have full colours for Zimbabwe, but played for the country’s second-string Sevens side in the Potchesfroom Sevens tournament in South Africa two weeks ago.
By Enock MuchinjoÂ
