Apollo Perelini's much-anticipated move to Sale Sharks RUFC is set be confirmed tomorrow.
The Greater Manchester based Rugby Union club have called a press conference for 10.30am on Friday morning, where they are expected to name a big name capture. Officials at the club were remaining tight-lipped on the player's identity - apart from confirming that it wouldn't be Jason Robinson. However, indications are that the signing announced is likely to be that of the St Helens prop.
The Sharks have recently been taken over by Edinburgh businessman Brian Kennedy and are known to have targeted a number of League stars as they bid to shed their unfashionable image. The signing of such a big name player will doubtless be a feather in the cap of the team who finished eleventh in last season's Allied Dunbar Premiership.
They are now being linked with a move for his St Helens team-mate Freddie Tuilagi. Whilst Wigan's Jason Robinson is still expected to accept a joint five year £750,000 deal with Sale and the RFU.
Apollo is no stranger to the fifteen man code, having represented Samoa in the 1991 World Cup as a number eight, before signing for Saints five years ago.
His loss will be a major blow to the Knowsley Road club, who are in the hunt for a second successive championship trophy - their third of the Super League era. Perelini's decision to leave one of the game's biggest clubs to join a struggling Union side, gives a clear indication of the money available to players wishing to switch codes. Saints will now be hoping that they have more luck in persuading their other Samoan star, Tuilagi, to commit his future to the club.