Zebre have signed Argentine center Nicolas De Battista from the Cornish Pirates. In a two-year-deal, De Battista will join Zebre ahead of the 2018-2019 season.
The move sees the Rosario mid-fielder moving from England’s second division to compete for the Italian side in the Guinness Pro 14 Championship and the European Challenge Cup.
The 27-year-old De Battista joins Zebre for the 2018-2019 season. It sees him continuing his professional career which began at the Cornish Pirates in 2016. During his two years with the Cornish Pirates De Battista has made 51 appearances for a return of 13 tries. This includes a hat-trick against Richmond this past weekend.
De Battista is uncapped by Argentina but played for his country at both the u19 and u20 levels. His move to England saw him immediately settling in as he was named Player of the Year for the club in the 2016-2017 season.
His move to Italy means there are to be five Argentine players playing for the Italian sides in next season’s Guinness Pro 14 Championship. He is to join Fly half Serafin Bordoli and Tight Head Eduardo Bello at Zebre. Benetton Treviso is also home to hooker Tomás Baravalle and center Juan Ignacio Brex.