Georgia add Top 14 star as 40-man Nations Cup squad named

Georgia is travelling to South America with a top-level roster, as La Rochelle’s Davit Niniashvili, Exeter’s Bachuki Tchumbadze and Bristol’s Luka Ivanishvili are among the 40 players selected for the opening three rounds of the Nations Cup.

After narrowly missing out on their 18th Men’s Rugby Europe Championship title, the Lelos are set to embark on a new era under Frenchman Pierre-Henri Broncan, who assumed control of the senior men’s team in June.

Broncan, assisted by Marco Bortolami, will have at his disposal Davit Niniashvili, one of the primary driving forces behind the Lelos’ attacking game, alongside several other key figures for the South America tour.

Premiership finalist prop Bachuki Tchumbadze, Bristol Bears flanker and enforcer Luka Ivanishvili, La Rochelle front-rower Aleksandre Kuntelia, and SU Oyonnax scrum-half Vasil Lobzhanidze are among the key figures set to represent the Lelos over the next three weeks.

As for the newcomers, lock Saba Pesvianidze (CS Bourgoin), flankers Rati Zazadze (US Nevers) and Giorgi Sinauridze (Black Lion), fly-half Davit Imnadze (Tbilisi Tsikara), centre Kvicha Jgerenaia (SCM USV Timi?oara), and winger Roma Makhatadze (Black Lion) are the six uncapped players who could earn their debuts.

The most notable absentees from Georgia’s Nations Cup squad are co-captain back-rower Beka Gorgadze (Section Paloise) and Giorgi Melikidze (Stade Français), who have been ruled out due to the mandatory rest period imposed by the Top 14.

Gorgadze enjoyed one of his best seasons since joining the Top 14, scoring six tries and boasting an 87 per cent tackle success rate, helping Pau reach the knockouts for the first time in 23 years.

The loose forward, who has been instrumental in the Lelos’ dominance in Rugby Europe competitions, last featured for Georgia in March, scoring in their narrow 19-17 defeat to Portugal.

Despite these absences, the Lelos head into July with a star-studded squad capable of securing three consecutive victories, with their campaign beginning on the 4th against Uruguay’s Teros, followed by Samoa on the 11th and Chile on the 18th.

Georgia squad for July:

Forwards: Giorgi Akhaladze (ASM Clermont), Guram Gogichashvili (Racing 92), Nika Abuladze (Montpellier), Nikoloz Sutidze (La Rochelle), Luka Petriashvili (US Nevers), Vakhtang Jincharadze (Black Lion), Aleksandre Kuntelia (La Rochelle), Bachuki Tchumbadze (Exeter Chiefs), Giorgi Pertaia (FC Grenoble), Lado Chachanidze (Stade Montois), Mikheil Babunashvili (Kutaisi Aia), Kote Mikautadze (CA Brive), Giorgi Javakhia (Soyaux-Angoulême), Saba Pesvianidze (Burgueil), Temur Tsulukidze (US Oyonnax), Luka Ivanishvili (Bristol Bears), Ilia Spanderashvili (Valence Romans), Tornike Jalagonia (Provence Rugby), Ioane Iashaghashvili (Stade Montois), Rati Zazadze (US Nevers), Beka Shvangiradze (Lyon OU), Andro Dvali (USA Perpignan), Otar Giorgadze (Kutaisi ‘Aia’) and Giorgi Sinauridze (Kutaisi ‘Aia’).

Backs: Vasil Lobzhanidze (US Oyonnax), Mikheil Alania (RC Vannes), Tengiz Peranidze (Black Lion), Tedo Abzhandadze (SU Aurillac), Luka Matkava (US Oyonnax), Davit Imnadze (Tsikara), Giorgi Kveseladze (Black Lion), Giorgi Shvelidze (Brive), Tornike Kakhoidze (Black Lion), Giorgi Khaindrava (Bordeaux-Bègles), Khvicha Jgerenaia (SCM USV Timi?oara), Akaki Tabutsadze (Black Lion), Roma Makhatadze (Black Lion), Shalva Aptsiauri (Black Lion), Davit Niniashvili (La Rochelle) and Luka Tsirekidze (Black Lion).