Highly-rated Italy Under-20s wing Faissal explains why he was eager to join Saints

The 20-year-old will head to Northampton this summer as he is joining from United Rugby Championship side Zebre, where he has made seven appearances and scored two tries to date in his first season in senior rugby.

Faissal made his maiden bow for Zebre against Montauban in this season’s European Challenge Cup and announced himself in some style as he crossed the whitewash after just 24 minutes.

Now, though, Faissal is ready to test himself in the Gallagher PREM and is looking forward to making cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens his home in the summer.

“Right from my first call with the coaches, I have been excited about the chance to be a part of Northampton Saints,” Faissal said.

“It’s a club full of talented young players and fantastic coaching staff that has a clear ambition.

“Moving to England and getting to play in a competitive league like the PREM is going to be a real challenge but it’s a great opportunity for me to grow as a rugby player and as a person.

“I’ve already had some good conversations with the coaches about my development and where they can help me learn. That coaching was one of the main reasons I wanted to come to Saints, to play amongst a squad that is at the top of its game and learn from them.

“But Saints was also a good choice for me to develop on a human level.

“The club is not just good at rugby but develops good people too, and that is something that is important to me.

“I want to learn off the field, improve my English, create new friendships.

“The chance to live in England and experience life away from home, away from your friends and family, getting to come to a completely different country and experience something new, I hope will also help me grow as a person.

“I won’t be completely without friends in Northampton though, I played with Edoardo (Todaro) in last season’s Under-20 Six Nations and I know Danilo (Fischetti) too. Both of them have already made me feel so welcome.

“I am looking forward to playing alongside them next season but also playing with Saints’ other international players, some of whom have inspired me personally – to get to play alongside players of that talent will be fantastic.

“Moving away from my hometown club has been a big decision. Zebre was a team I grew up supporting, to have played for a team I watched as a kid has been a privilege and I will always be grateful to them for giving me that chance. I have made some incredible friendships in my time there, I have learned so much from the coaches and my team-mates and I thank them for that.

“But looking ahead, this opportunity that Saints have given me and the trust the club have already shown me is very exciting.

"I want to play as much as I can in a Saints jersey, learn as a player and hopefully win some trophies along the way – I can’t wait to get started.”