Nozzle, and nozzle and stopper combination

A continuous casting nozzle located beneath a stopper for controlling a flow rate of molten steel in continuous casting of molten steel, and fittingly engageable with the stopper in a fitting engagement region, the nozzle comprising:

• a fitting engagement sub-region including a contact area with the stopper, the fitting engagement sub-region comprising a layer composed of a refractory material for a fitting engagement region;
• a nozzle body composed of a main body refractory material which is a different refractory material from the refractory material for the fitting engagement region;
• and
• a gas outlet provided in at least one boundary area between the fitting engagement region refractory material layer and the main body refractory material in a surface of the nozzle contactable with molten steel,
• wherein the gas outlet is configured, dimensioned, and arranged to blow an inert gas in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the nozzle.