Ex-Italy prop Cherif Traorè pops up in unlikely location

18-cap Italy prop Cherif Traorè has resurfaced six months after leaving Rangers Vicenza, having joined Dutch team RC Diok. Traorè made his Ereklasse debut on Saturday, playing 40 minutes off the bench and helping his new club to a 25-24 win.

The front-rower first made an impact with the Italy U20s. After a couple of years with Cavalieri Prato and Viadana, he was signed by Benetton in the then-PRO14.

Even though his career was plagued early on by injuries, Traorè was selected for the Azzurri in 2018, earning his first Test cap on June 16 that year. The loosehead replaced Andrea Lovotti in Italy’s 25-22 victory over Japan.

His impact off the bench convinced Conor O’Shea to select him for the 2019 Six Nations. Traorè played in every game of Italy’s Wooden Spoon campaign but did not make the 32-man squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Unfortunately for the Guinea-born Italian, his form dipped due to repeated injuries, forcing him to miss most of Benetton and Italy’s matches in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, he was the victim of a racist incident when then-Benetton teammate Ivan Nemer gave him a rotten banana as part of a so-called Christmas prank.

Nemer was suspended for six months and apologised, while Traorè left the club in May 2023 to join Pro D2 side Stade Montois. His stay in France lasted only one season, as the prop was unable to find his best form, barely playing at all for the southern French club.

Last season, the 31-year-old returned to Italy, signing with Serie A Elite side Rangers Vicenza, where he regained some strength and enjoyed good game time before moving abroad again, this time to the Netherlands.

RC Diok have lifted the Ereklasse 13 times, most recently in 2022, and are expected to mount a title challenge with Cherif Traorè in their ranks.