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Stade Français have signed Francisco Gómez Kodela. The French Top 14 side have secured the Puma for the 2023-2024 season. He arrives with a ton of experience; no Puma has made more appearances in the Top 14 than Gómez Kodela.
Gómez Kodela takes 233 Top 14 matches with him to Stade Français. 2023-2024 will be his thirteenth season in the Top 14. The 38-year-old previously played in France’s elite for Biarritz, Bordeaux and Lyon. The Buenos Aires native joined Biarritz in 2011, Bordeaux in 2014, Lyon in 2016 and now Stade Français in 2023.
The tight head prop made a dream come true; he played of Los Pumas at the World Cup this year in France. It came after he was badly missed from the 2019 tournament. Selection policies gave preference to Jaguares.
Everything changed in 2020. That year saw Mario Ledesma calling-up Gómez Kodela for the 2020 Rugby Championship. He was one of four tight head props on the roster. The three others had all played for Argentina under Ledesma in prior years; notwithstanding, Gómez Kodela was the starting tight head.
Argentina’s historic win over New Zealand saw the forwards performing well in the set-piece and also in general play. Gómez Kodela was the rock that held the scrum together. That test match was Gómez Kodela’s first since 2013.
He finished Rugby World Cup 2023 with 38 to his name. He was Argentina’s first-choice tight head. He started against England in Marseille, was a replacement against Samoa in St. Étienne and against Chile in Nantes and returned to the starting line-up against Japan in Nantes. He started in the Quarter Final win against Wales in Marseille and also the Semi Final loss to New Zealand in Paris and the Bronze Final loss to England in Paris.
Eduardo Bello was the understudy for Gómez Kodela at the World Cup.Bello was also the player who started the matches against Samoa and Chile.
Gómez Kodela is a product of Belgrano Athletic in Buenos Aires. He was born and raised in the Argentine capital. He made his test debut for Argentina in 2008 against Uruguay in Montevideo. He is renowned for his scrummaging and defense.
