SEDGLEY Park have signed prop Philip Gazzola from Italian side Viadana and are on the brink of tying up a deal with a Welsh second row and a Kiwi number eight.

Twenty-eight-year-old Gazzola stands 6ft 2ins and weighs in at 18st 7lbs.

He has spent the last two seasons with Viadana, having joined them from New Brighton where he spent a total of four seasons.

He also had a year in Canada where he played for the Manitoba Buffalo in the Super League

Prior to that he spent a season with another Italian side, Livorno.

He can play either side of the front row and was a teammate of last season's stand-off, Blair Feeney in Italy.

The Wallasey-born player was also a teammate of Park's Huw Thomas when the two played for New Brighton.

Joining him next week should be a Welsh second row.

The 22-year-old lock stands at 6ft 5ins and is a former Welsh Under 21 international and Welsh Cup winner.

The club have agreed terms with their man and are awaiting the return of a signed contract.

Progress is also being made with regard to a New Zealand back-rower.

However, the club also announced this week that two of last season's squad have decided to seek pastures new.

Prop Matt Collie looks set to join National Two side Orrell, while promising young flanker Dan Hall is interesting Sale Sharks.

The club is also keeping tabs on an up-and-coming young second row and is trying to work out a deal for a second stand-off.