Legendary Italian number eight Sergio Parisse and Stade Français are to part company after 15 years.

In a statement on the club's website, they confirmed that "Stade Français Paris and Sergio Parisse have decided by mutual agreement to put an end to his contract."

The announcement followed with Parisse wishing the Parisian club luck and success in the future, while he had also been thanked for the success during his captaincy.

Parisse made 258 appearances for the Top 14 team, winning the French league on two occasions in 2007 and 2015, while also claiming the European Challenge Cup in 2017.

He has only played for two professional clubs throughout his career starting out in Italy with Benetton Rugby in 2003 and played 64 times for the Treviso team over two years.

He was the first Italian player to be nominated for the IRB's International Player of the Year, with the first coming in 2007, followed by a second nod in 2013.

The 35-year-old Argentinian-born Italian captain will lead the Azzurri into the World Cup in Japan later this year. In Pool B they will face reigning World Cup Champions New Zealand, South Africa, Namibia, and Canada.

At the last World Cup, the Italians went out at the pool stages, despite winning two games. One of their losses at the tournament four years ago included going down to Ireland at the Olympic Stadium by 16 points to nine.

Last season, Stade Français finished 8th in the Top 14, six points away from a place in the quarter-finals. The club plays their home games at the 20,000-seater Jean-Bouin Stadium.

Former Ireland captain Paul O'Connell is part of the coaching staff at the Parisian club until his contract runs up at the end of this week. He announced his intentions to leave in March by mutual consent.

Parisse has yet to make a statement on his future plans.