Italian Test flank Mauro Bergamasco has signed for Aironi and will join the Viadana-based side until the end of the season with an option for a second year.

He will be added to the European Cup list in place of the injured Nick Williams and can make his debut with the black and silver jersey in Monza against Ulster on Saturday December 17 or a week later, on Friday 23rd when Aironi host Treviso in the first Italian derby of the Pro12.

"After eight years in France I have come back to Italy to bring my experience and my will to continue to play at the highest level with the Aironi squad," he said.

"I'm really excited for the opportunity to play in what is a really new competition for me as the Pro12 is, and the opportunity to do this with an Italian team that is young and ambitious, where I find a lot of teammates with the Azzurri and a number of young talents who can represent the future of Aironi and Italy both during the next seasons.

"I never hide my will to continue to play in a big European championship, and to do it with an Italian team represents to my eyes a new great motivation," he added.

Aironi president Silvano Melegari commented: "We are really happy and proud to bring into Viadana an athlete and a man as Mauro Bergamasco is.

"He is one of the faces of the Italian rugby around the world and will give the team all his experience as an International and his extraordinary fierceness. We have a long way to go to the end of the season and Mauro is fundamental to advancing our growing process," he said.