USA lock Nick Civetta has signed with Vannes of the French Pro D2. Though his contract has been given the ‘medical joker’ designation, he will stay with the club for the remainder of the season following the recent injury-enforced retirement of Étienne Delangle. Vannes are also without Ireland international Dan Tuohy until January with a broken arm and Scottish age-grade cap Andy Cramond who is currently undergoing return-to-play protocol for concussion.
Civetta completed a remarkable recovery from a serious ankle injury suffered while playing against Canada in the Pacific Nations Cup when he suited up for the Eagles in their opening match of the Rugby World Cup against England. He would start three of the four games, being rested for the game against Argentina, and has now won 26 test caps, all of them starts.
It’s a positive move for Civetta who joins after spending the bulk of the past two seasons with Doncaster Knights in the RFU Championship. Fast approaching his 30th birthday, he had been targeted for a potential move to his native New York in Major League Rugby, but that will now have to wait at least one more year. Civetta instead joins fellow Eagles teammate Eric Fry at Vannes, the latter entering his fourth season with the club having also started three games for the USA in Japan.