Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino hoping to earn long-term deal at Munster

Munster’s new Argentinian full-back Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino is hopeful his short-term deal with the province might yet turn into a lengthy stay.

The 30-year-old, who could debut for Munster in Saturday’s Champions Cup opener against Treviso at Thomond Park, played five times for Argentina as the Pumas earned a fourth place finish at the Rugby World Cup.

Amorosino said he was keen to make an immediate impact with Anthony Foley’s side and linked up with his new team-mates last week after moving to Munster straight after the World Cup.

And despite just signing a three-month contract with the province, Amorosino says he hopes to secure a longer deal by impressing in the red shirt.

“I have signed initially for three months. When they are finished the qualification for the European Cup, we will see,” said Amorosino.

“I played last year in Munster with Cardiff and I know how the club is really serious. They are working really hard, I think it is a really ambitious club. So for me that is the most important, to go to a place to play rugby because I enjoy that.

“Munster is a great opportunity for me, it is a great club with a lot of history. I know that they give a lot of importance to the European Cup. So I think that it is a really nice tournament and I am really happy to be part of this team, I hope to give my best there and to say thank you for calling me.”

Amorosino is the second Argentinian to sign a short-term deal with Munster in the last couple of seasons after front-row Eusebio Guinazu made 20 appearances for Munster last season.

But it was their compatriot Freddie Pucciariello that made the biggest impact, when he was involved in both the 2006 and 2008 Heineken Cup- winning seasons with Munster.

“I know a lot about Freddie,” said Amorosino. “They told me, when I spoke with the coach. I think that is a great opportunity, I am very fortunate to play in Ireland.

“Eusebio Guinazu who played there, he told me they are really good, and for me that is most important. I come to help this group, most of the Irish guys that I know all of my life. They are a really good people.

“I played with a few Irish guys in Leicester – Geordan Murphy, Leo Cullen. So I know that they are really good people.

“Munster play really good rugby, it was my first choice to go there because I love how they play rugby, they play fantastic. So I hope to have a fun time there.”