Montpellier sign Italian flyhalf Paolo Garbisi

Montpellier have confirmed the signing of Italian flyhalf Paolo Garbisi from Benetton. 

The 21-year-old made his test debut against Ireland during the 2020 Six Nations and has quickly become the starting pivot for the Italian. The intelligent playmaker already have 10 test caps and 55 test points to his name.

He arrives at Montpellier off the back of a successful PRO14 Rainbow Cup campaign where he starred in the final to beat the Bulls.

He has a agreed a deal with Montpellier until 2023 and will jostle with Handre Pollard for the starting #10 role.

He arrives at the club following the departure of Alex Lozowski, who was only loan at the French outfit, as well as Johan Goosen who returned to South Africa joining the Bulls. 

“I am really happy to join a big club like Montpellier! I can't wait to resume the season and start this new chapter of my career in a new country." - Garbisi said on the confirmation of his move.

Philippe SAINT-ANDRÉ : "Paolo was the best Italian player of the last 6 Nations tournament. He is a bit like the nugget of Italian rugby. He really wanted to take the challenge of wanting to progress and play for a big club. We with the departure of Alex Lozowski and Goosen, we really needed a player like him, able to play 10, 12, 15, goalscorer. And so we are very happy to have Paolo for 2 years here. really wants to come with us, to grow up, to train in a professional structure, even if he remains in the double project because he will continue his studies and who comes on a hopeful contract. "