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Thretton Palamo’s move to Bristol is now official. The heavily-rumored contract was today confirmed by the Aviva Premiership club, with the US Eagles center to join up with the team at the conclusion of his commitments to the Eagles 7s Olympic program. The 27-year-old also ran out in the midfield with the Eagles XVs against both Italy and Russia over the past two weekends.
Despite being signed by Saracens ahead of the 2014-15 season, Palamo has yet to make his Premiership debut. 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 15 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.
Bristol won promotion to the Premiership after defeating Doncaster in the Greene King IPA Championship finals last month. It marks a return to the top flight for the first time since being relegated in 2009. A number of internationals are already at the club, including Manu Samoa captain David Lemi, Welsh star Gavin Henson, and former Pumas prop Gastón Cortes. Among the notable additions for the 2016-17 season are no8 Jordan Crane, who joins from Leicester Tigers, and Sunwolves flyhalf Tusi Pisi.
