Italy hooker Nicotera to join Stade Francais
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Italy hooker Giacomo Nicotera will join French club Stade Francais on a three-year deal starting next season, a source told AFP.
Treviso's Nicotera, 27, made the most recent of his 23 Test appearances during this year's impressive Six Nations when the Azzurri won two games and a drew another.
He also played at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Last week, Nicotera was named in head coach Gonzalo Quesada's preliminary Italy squad for Tests in July against Samoa, Tonga and Japan.
He is likely to be Stade Francais' first-choice hooker next season, facing competition from uncapped Frenchman Lucas Peyresblanques and promising youngster Mamoudou Meite.
The Parisians have offered a contract to 37-year-old former France scrum-half Rory Kockott who came out of retirement this season initially to act as World Cup cover.
The South-African born half-back then played six games for the club this campaign.
The Parisians, 14-time French champions, have qualified for this season's Top 14 semi-finals on June 22, having last reached the last four in 2015.