Leeds Carnegie sign Viadana lock Sean Hohneck

Hohneck started 11 games for Viadana this season

Leeds Carnegie have signed second-row Sean Hohneck from Italian club Viadana on a two-year contract.

The 31-year-old will be a direct replacement for Erik Lund, who has moved to French side Biarittz.

Head coach Neil Back said: "We know that Sean is coming to Headingley Carnegie for the right reasons.

"He has a young family and wants a new challenge to test himself. He has bought into what we want to achieve as a club."

The 6ft 8in New Zealand-born lock previously played for Bristol in the Premiership and represented the New Zealand Maoris having appeared domestically for Waikato Chiefs.

Back added: "Erik Lund did a fantastic job for us over the past two years and we developed him as a player during his time at the club.

"Our challenge was to find someone with the same physical presence as Erik plus the ability to compete in the line out, in Sean we believe we have found that ideal candidate.

"He has the same frame as Erik and is a fantastic option in the line-out.

"He could have remained in Italy to play in the Magners League but he was keen to return to the Guinness Premiership."

Hohneck is the Yorkshire club's second signing of the summer, following Michael Stephenson from Bath.