Venditti to earn his stripes at Zebre

This follows a frustrating spell at Newcastle and the Premiership.

The 26-year-old - capped over 30 times since making his Test debut in 2012 - played just nine times for the Premiership outfit last season, after signing a two-year contract, and felt his lack of playing time was affecting his international career.

He played the last of his 33 Tests - in which he has scored six tries - at the World Cup last October but was dropped for the Six Nations, although he has been named in their Nations Cup squad.

"We have enjoyed working with Giamba [Venditti] and wish him and his family well for their return to Italy," said Newcastle Director of Rugby Dean Richards.

"His relative lack of first-team opportunities during his time with us had started to affect his place in the Italian national side, and with that in mind this opportunity has come around at a good time.

"We are well catered for on the wings with the talent we have in our squad, but everybody at the club thanks Giamba for the work he has put in at Newcastle."

Venditti's chances of establishing himself at Newcastle came under further threat when the Falcons recently signed Fijian flyer Vereniki Goneva.

Agence France-Presse