Pesamino has starred for Samoa during the IRB sevens series

Sale coach Mike Brewer says the Sharks are still waiting for visa clearance for Samoa international winger Mikaele Pesamino to come through.

The 26-year-old agreed to join from New Zealand province Auckland in July.

Brewer said: "I spoke to him this week so at this stage the visa has not been granted for him.

"We're trying to find out from the Home Office why it hasn't been granted, whether it's something we did not know about when applying for the visa."

He added: "From previous history and precedent, there's no reason why it shouldn't be granted because he has played international rugby for Samoa within the last 18 months.

"He's in exactly the same position as Paul Williams who joined us in the summer and Paul was granted a visa without any problems."

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The 6ft 2in flyer was the International Rugby Board sevens player of the year in 2009/10 and the leading try-scorer in this year's World Series with 56.

Brewer continued: "I'm not concerned that he may be having second thoughts. Mikaele said he had done his time playing in sevens. He wants to play 'professional 15' and he wants to come to Sale.

The 2006 Premiership winners take on Newcastle in their opening game of the new season on Friday.

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