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USA Eagles center Thretton Palamo is set to sign for newly-promoted Aviva Premiership club Bristol, according to multiple media outlets. The 27-year-old World Cup standout is currently part of both the Eagles 7s and XVs rosters, and is expected to play against Russia this weekend before returning to Chula Vista to prepare for the Olympics.
A massive physical presence at 1.91m (6’3″) and 115kg (255lbs), Palamo has yet to make his Premiership debut despite being signed by Saracens ahead of the 2014-15 season. Injury restricted him to just three LV= Cup appearances, and he was loaned to Greene King IPA Championship club London Welsh for the 2015-16 season. After just a handful of matches he departed mid-season to join the Eagles 7s program in a full-time capacity.
Palamo won the first of his 14 test caps to date in against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup, and joined the academy side at Biarritz Olympique in 2008. His stay in France was short-lived, however, and after he return state-side he switched his focus to American football while at the University of Utah. In 2014 he returned to rugby, jumping straight back into the Eagles side and being selected for the 2015 World Cup.
Should he sign for the west-country side, Palamo’s arrival will depend on whether he is selected for Mike Friday’s Olympic squad. With a number of players in contention his inclusion is far from guaranteed. If he does make it, Palamo would be unavailable for much of the pre-season, with the new Premiership season set to kick off in the first week of September.
