Connacht Rugby have today announced the signing of Kyle Tonetti from Aviva Premiership club Sale Sharks.
The 24-year-old former Blackrock College centre joined Sale last season where he earned fourteen Premiership caps and scored a try against this week's Heineken Cup opponents Harlequins.
Tonetti has represented Ireland at U-19 and U-20 level and was part of the 2007 U-20 6 Nations Grand Slam winning team alongside current Connacht players Andrew Browne, Paul O'Donohoe, TJ Anderson and Niall O'Connor.
A former pupil of St Gerard's School in Bray, Kyle joined the Leinster Academy in 2007 and spent two years professionally contracted to the Province, earning 21 Leinster 'A' caps and three senior caps, the last against Connacht in April 2010 in the Sportsground.
Kyle's contract will see him play at the Sportsground until at least the end of the 2011/12 season.
Speaking about the signing Head Coach Eric Elwood said: "I'm really looking forward to working with Kyle again, having known him since the '07 U20s team that won the 6 Nations and I'm sure he will fit nicely into the squad.
"We're looking forward to him joining up with the team and working with him again."