Zebre have acquired the services of an additional South American. Flying into Italy from Argentina is Marco Ciccioli. The 23-year-old joins the Pro 14 side on his first opportunity of playing in Europe as well as his first professional contract.
His contract with Zebre is to be for the remainder of the 2018-2019 Pro 14 season. He joins as a medical joker in place of fellow Argentine prop Eduardo Bello who has been ruled out for the season after sustaining a knee injury.
From Bahía Blanca in the southwest of Buenos Aires province, Ciccioli is a product of Sportiva club whom he played for before moving to the capital to join CASI. He would then go on to be the first player from Bahía Blanca to be called-up by Argentina at the senior level.
In 2018 Ciccioli was named in Mario Ledesma’s initial 38-man roster for the Rugby Championship. He would not receive game time thereby remaining uncapped. The player before him to be a Puma was Bernardo Stortoni in 2008 who enjoyed a long career in Scotland.
Despite being uncapped Ciccioli is captured by Argentina. This is a result of him having played for the ‘next of XV‘, the Argentina XV in 2018.