Chairman Pier Luigi Bernabò explained the Zebre Rugby's strategy: "The playing squad is almost complete, and in the coming weeks we will continue to announce players' names. The choices were shared with the coaching staff and are consistent with precise guidelines approved by the board of directors of the club".
Mr Bernabò congratulated the Club for the work done, especially Team Manager Andrea De Rossi: "I believe De Rossi has done a great job, focussing on the Club's needs, acting in line with our budget and using a realistic approach - Zebre are now less desirable than other European competitor clubs. I hope the results will change this condition in the short term and make our Club more attractive not only to the players but also for the general public and commercial partners: it's an opportunity we need to make the most of, with the help of all our stakeholders".
The first player signed for the 2015/16 season is fullback Mils Muliaina - the second All Blacks player to wear the Zebre Rugby shirt. Born in Samoa with a New Zealand passport, Muliaina is fifth in the All Black list for number of appearances, the second to reach the milestone of 100 caps during the World Cup won on home soil in 2011 before retiring from International rugby.
Zebre has signed a one-year deal with the player who will arrive in Parma at the end of the current season, where he currently plays in the ranks of the Irish side of Connacht, who will be Zebre Rugby's opponents in the last home game of the season. Muliaina made his debut in Europe last November in the first leg of the PRO12 match against Zebre while next May 9th he could make his first appearance at Stadio Lanfranchi as an opponent.
Prior to the Galway experience he wore the Chiefs jersey on two occasions, and also played for Auckland Blues, winning the 2003 Super Rugby title. The 34 year-old number 15 also played in Japan with the Osaka Red Hurricanes. In his international career Muliaina faced Italy five times, two of them in Italy (Rome 2004 and Milan 2009) scoring three tries.
Zebre Rugby team manager Andrea De Rossi added: "In a World Cup year it is more important to try to build a team where an adequate standard of comptetitiveness is guaranteed when International players are not available for the Club - as was the case during the last Six Nations 2015, with 15 of our players making an appearance in the Tournament. I think there's no real need to introduce Muliaina, a symbol of rugby itself who took part in three World Cups. I believe that with his immense experience across the back line he will be a significant contributor to the growth of many young players in our squad."
Here's the player card:
Name: Mils
Surname: Muliaina
Place of birth: Salelesi (SAM)
Date of birth: 31/07/1980
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 92 kg
Role: Fullback
Honours: All Blacks, All Blacks Sevens, New Zealand Colts, New Zealand Schools
Caps: 100
Appearances in Guinness PRO12: 7
Appearances in EPCR Champions Cup: 0
Appearances in EPCR Challenge Cup: 3
Former Clubs: Connacht (IRL), Red Hurricanes (JPN), Chiefs (NZL), Waikato Chiefs (NZL), Auckland Blues (NZL), Auckland (NZL)
Other selections: Barbarians, Pacific Barbarians
Mils Muliaina: "I am really looking forward to my move to Italy to join Zebre Rugby. I have always been a big believer of passing my knowledge and experience of the game on to other up and coming rugby players. With the experience I have had playing in Milan and Rome with the All Blacks, I know the Italians are very passionate about rugby in their country. Joining Zebre allows me to maintain the appetite I have to succeed as a rugby player. After chatting to Brendon (scrum-half Leonard, former Chiefs and All Blacks team-mate, in Parma since 2013) about his time in Zebre I am looking forward to an exciting season ahead."
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