SARACENS have signed Italian loose-head prop Matias Aguero from Azzuri Supper 10 side Arix Viadana on a 12-month deal.

The 26-year-old Italy international has been with the 2007 Coppa Italia winners for three years following spells at Bologna and Rugby Rovigo.

Strapping six-footer Aguero weighs 17 stone and will give Saracens another option in the forwards. Although born in Argentina, he has four caps for the Azzuri and made his debut for the country in 2005.

"Matias was pointed out to us some time ago and was recommended to me by Fabio Ongaro," said Saracens boss Alan Gaffney. "Fabio really rates him as a player and I fully respect Fabio's judgement.

"Matias is an excellent scrummager and will provide extra competition in that position. It's an area of the squad where we do have options, but it's important that we keep improving, topping up the squad and strengthening the scrum."

He added: "Italians are widely regarded as outstanding in that area of the game as their performances demonstrated in this year's Six Nations. So we're happy to have him on board."