SALE supremo Steve Diamond has made another key addition to his armoury for next season by securing the capture of All Blacks star Sam Tuitupou.

The Sharks executive director of sport has signed the inside centre from Irish giants Munster on a two year deal.

Tuitupou’s capture represents a huge coup for Diamond with the 29-year-old boasting a rich pedigree.

Born in Auckland, Tuitupou was a World Cup winner with New Zealand’s Under-21s and has gone on to win nine caps to date with the All Blacks.

He also won the Super 14s crown with the Blues along with the Air New Zealand Cup with Auckland before moving to England four years ago to join Worcester.

His explosive pace and power made Hacksaw Sam a huge favourite at Sixways before he crossed the Irish Sea last summer to join Magners League favourites Munster following Worcester’s relegation.

And he has gone on to make a big impact in Ireland where he has earned the nickname ‘Hacksaw Sam’.

Tuitupou was part of the Munster team along with fellow new Sharks recruit Tony Buckley, which secured a place in the Amlin Cup semi-finals with a victory in Brive at the weekend.

Sale’s executive director of sport Diamond said he was thrilled to have got his man after making the 29-year-old one of his key transfer targets.

“Sam is a great signing for us. He has a great workrate, is very strong in the contact area and will boost our back line in both attack and defence,” said the Edgeley Park chief.