Italy confirm former Stade Francais boss as Kieran Crowley’s replacement :

The Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) have announced that Gonzalo Quesada will take charge of the national team following the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

On Thursday, the FIR revealed that Kieran Crowley’s contract would not be renewed after the global tournament.

Crowley was appointed as the country’s head coach in 2021 when Franco Smith was moved upstairs, but he will leave following the conclusion of the World Cup.

A former fly-half who earned 38 caps for Argentina, Quesada began his coaching career with France as an assistant before joining up with Racing Metro.

Success with Stade

He then became head coach of Racing, but would join Paris rivals Stade Francais in 2013 and remained there for four years, guiding them to the Top 14 and Challenge Cup titles.

A short stint with Biarritz followed before Quesada took the reins at the Jaguares after Mario Ledesma left to become Los Pumas’ head honcho.

In his first full year in charge, they secured their first – and only – Super Rugby final appearance in 2019, where they lost to the Crusaders.

After the Argentinian outfit were axed from the competition, he returned to Stade and has spent the past three years at the Parisians.

“Gonzalo Quesada’s arrival is wonderful news for all of our rugby. We bring to our country one of the most prominent young coaches on the international scene,” FIR present Marzio Innocenti said.

“He shares projects and ambitions with us, the vision of a national team that people will know in the years to come. The Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027 represents a real danger for all opponents.

“We were impressed by Gonzalo, not only by his record for such a young figure, but in particular by his burning desire to make Italy a point of reference in the Test arena.

“To realize this desire and this vision, he gave up offers in the French championship, where he is well-respected, and this makes his decision even more valuable.

“Together we want to direct the men’s national team towards the future that it deserves and which, thanks to the work of those who preceded Gonzalo in these two years, has already begun to become a reality.

“We look forward to seeing him soon in Italy, together with his family, to take the first steps on this new path that will start after the Rugby World Cup in September.”

Quesada guided Stade Francais to fourth place in the Top 14 in 2022/23, but they were eliminated by arch-rivals Racing in the ‘Barrages’.

Honoured and proud

“I am honoured and proud to become the coach of the Italian national team in the years to come. I thank the Federation, the president and the council for this opportunity and for this great challenge,” the 49-year-old said.

“In recent seasons, Italy has improved a lot, respecting their usual strengths and at the same time developing an exciting game.

“There is a group of talented athletes who will develop growing international experience in the coming years.

“Our exciting mission…