Italy international Marco Ric­cioni Saracens' exit confirmed

Perpignan have completed a deal to sign Saracens Italian international tighthead Marco Riccioni on a three-year deal when his contract with the former PREM Rugby champions ends this summer.

Riccioni, 28, has made 68 appearances for Saracens since he joined from Benetton five years ago and has been attracting a lot of interest from across the Channel from clubs keen to sign him.

Lyon and La Rochelle have both spoken to him, but L’Équipe are now reporting that he has put pen to paper with the Blood and Gold, where he will join compatriot Pietro Ceccarelli.

He will also compete with former Newcastle Falcons, Northampton Saints and Wasps tighthead Kieran Brookes, who was part of Stuart Lancaster’s 2015 World Cup squad, at the Aimé-Giral.

Perpignan, who are 13th in the Top 14 and battling against relegation to the Pro D2, have a tough game this weekend when Pau are the visitors.

They are making huge changes ahead of next season with Max Hicks, Jordan Petaia, Hugo Reus and Alivereti Duguivalu all set to leave, along with tightheads South African Nemo Roelofse and Akato Fakatika.

This is why they have lured Riccioni, who has made 14 appearances so far this season, on a contract that will run through to the summer of 2029.

Saracens, who have signed Wales and Lions star Tomas Williams and England international George Martin, as well as Riccioni, are losing Tom Willis, Alex Lozowski, Harry Wilson and Branden Jackson.

Riccioni caused a social media storm earlier in the season after being sin-binned against long-time rivals Northampton Saints when he pointed to the number of stars above the club’s badge.

The 6-foot-tall, 126kg prop has won 36 caps for Italy but is not being considered for the Guinness Six Nations after picking up an injury in Saracens’ Investec Champions Cup defeat away at Glasgow Warriors last month.