The 49-year-old technician will take over from New Zealander Kieran Crowley, 61, “from January 1, 2024” in order to prepare for the next Six Nations Tournament, the Italian Federation said in its press release.
Coach of Stade Français Paris since 2020, the former assistant to Marc Lievremont with the XV of France (2008-2011) had been pushed out by the owner of the Parisian club, Hans-Pieter Wild.
Gonzalo Quesada had recently told Le Figaro that he would not rush to take up new duties. “The ideal plan is to cut at the end of the season, to take a break during the World Cup, not to commit to a new project. I received one or two really interesting proposals that made me doubt. But I didn’t respond. In my head, I do everything not to continue immediately with another project.
He had thus refused offers from Perpignan and, more recently, from LOU, to take over from Xavier Garbajosa, sacked. “After the Stade Français experience, I know that I will only take a project where the vision is perfectly clear and shared, a serious project where I can master all the things I need to master. Otherwise, I will succeed in the challenge I set myself not to, at least, start the next season elsewhere.
So challenge met. To become the first Argentinian to occupy the position of coach of the XV azzurro, his first selection, after having been assistant to the Blues (2008-2011) and the Pumas (2018). It was at the Stade Français that Gonzalo Quesada, a former opener or international back who passed through Béziers and Toulon, among others, made a name for himself as a coach during his two stints (2013-2017 then 2020-2023). , marked by titles in the Top 14 (2015) and in the Challenge Cup (2017).
