The 28-year-old, who has won 38 caps for the Azzurri, has signed a three-year deal with the English Premiership side after playing seven campaigns with Benetton Treviso.

The step up from the Super 10 to the Premiership will be vast but Ongaro, who faced Saracens twice in last season's European Cup group stages, feels he is ready to face that challenge.

I had a meeting with their new coach (director of rugby Alan Gaffney) before I signed, and after speaking with him, I decided this was the right team for me, Ongaro said.

This is a team who want to go forward and they have lots of ambition for the coming season.

This is a fantastic opportunity for me to improve technically and to compete in the English championship, one of the best leagues in the world.

He added: My targets are to get in their first XV and to play on a regular basis. I'm really looking forward to starting training in July, and then making my debut in the championship.