Bok prop signs with Stade Francais as 'medical joker'

Springbok prop Vincent Koch has signed up for a stint at French Top 14 club Stade Francais.

Koch, 32, has been on the lookout for a new club after his English employers, Wasps, landed in financial trouble.

Afrikaans newspaper Rapport reported over the weekend that the Sharks were eager to lure Koch to Durban as a replacement for Thomas du Toit, who is being courted by English club Bath.

The Sharks deal may still transpire, but Koch will feature for Stade Francais in the short-term after signing up as a "medical joker", which is a common term in French rugby for a player who joins a club as an injury replacement on a short-term basis.

The Parisian club on Thursday announced they had signed a deal with Koch, alongside English centre/winger Paolo Odogwu and Fijian wing/fullback Peniasi Dakuwaqa.

"Three players join the Paris squad to compensate for the long-term absences of Paul Alo-Emile, Sefanaia Naivalu and Telusa Veainu. Welcome to Vincent Koch, Paolo Odogwu and Peniasi Dakuwaqa!," Stade Francais said in a statement.

???? Le pilier droit ????, champion du monde en 2019, nous rejoint en tant que joker médical de Paul Alo-Emile. Welcome @vincentkoch1 ! ??

Rapport said over the weekend that a short-term deal with Koch's former club, Saracens, was on the cards. The report added that he could later return to South Africa in Sharks colours.

It seems, however, that Stade Francais jumped at the opportunity ahead of Saracens.

Koch, 32, has played 35 Tests for the Boks since making his debut in 2015.