• Kockott prolongs playing career by a year

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    Veteran scrumhalf Rory Kockott has signed a one-year contract extension with French club Castres.

    Kockott joined Castres from the Lions in 2011 and was set to hang up his boots at the end of the current European season. But it was announced on Thursday that the French club has successfully negotiated a new deal with the player to delay his retirement by a year until 2022.

    The 34-year-old Kockott, who was influential in both of Castres’ two title-winning seasons in 2013 and 2018, has made 253 appearances for the club. Additionally, he qualified to play for France via the three-year residency rule and has since earned 11 Test caps for Les Blues, scoring three tries.

    ‘Rory Kockott is a unique player for Castres,’ club president Pierre-Yves Revol said.

    ‘He arrived as a medical joker in 2011, won two Bouclier de Brennus titles with us and became a French international. Beyond his sporting record, his ability to integrate into our club and our city, his perfect command of our language, his ability to communicate with our audience and his professional standards make him an athlete and a man apart in the workforce and now in the history of our club.

    ‘He will complete his last season in our colours while working towards his coaching badges and contributing to the strategy that our management has put in place.’

    Photo: Laurent Frezouls/Icon Sport via Getty Images

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    SA Rugby magazine