Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France
38 - 38
FT
HSBC SVNS 2026
Perth
Today
12:00
Today
22:05
Tomorrow
00:35
Tomorrow
10:00
Tomorrow
10:30
Tomorrow
10:30
Tomorrow
10:30
Tomorrow
10:30
Tomorrow
10:30
Tomorrow
11:15
U20
Tomorrow
11:45
U20
Tomorrow
12:00
Tomorrow
19:35
Tomorrow
22:05
Saturday
00:35
Saturday
04:00
Saturday
05:30
Saturday
06:10
Saturday
07:35
Saturday
07:35
Saturday
07:35
Saturday
07:35
Saturday
08:40
Saturday
12:00
U20
Saturday
12:00
Sunday
07:10
Sunday
12:05
InternationalGeorgia

Georgia great Gorgodze retires from international rugby

Mamuka Gorgodze in action for Georgia at the 2015 Rugby World Cup

Georgia skipper Mamuka Gorgodze – arguably the greatest player in the country’s history – has announced his retirement from international rugby union.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 32-year-old back-row forward, who represents Toulon in the Top 14, has opted to call time on his Georgia career as he feels he will be unable to shine at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

In a statement on the Georgia Rugby Union website, Gorgodze said: “I planned to finish my international career back in 2015 after the Rugby World Cup, but the team asked me to stay and I put retirement off for some time. But I never stopped thinking about it and finally this is what I am going to do.

“As I am getting older, I get tired and hurt much easier than before, and this will grow more noticeable with age.

“I was repeatedly offered to train exclusively for the World Cup, to join the team only for the key games, but this is not acceptable. The captain must always be with his team, to feel it and live with it, otherwise one is not a captain.

“The team might miss me, but nobody is irreplaceable. I decided to announce my retirement two years before the World Cup, just before the team enters the active preparation phase, so as not to cause any problems to the coaching staff.”

A veteran of four World Cups who holds the nickname ‘Gorgodzilla’, Gorgodze has scored a record 26 tries in 71 caps for Georgia.

ADVERTISEMENT

Watch every game of the Lions Tour of NZ streaming live on rugbypass.com, home of the best online rugby coverage including news, highlights, previews & reviews, live scores, and more!

ADVERTISEMENT
Play Video
LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

1

Fissler Extra: RWC winner on URC shortlist, Italian eyed as Faf back-up

1
2

Another ex-player weighs in on new Jacques Nienaber theory in Ireland

3
3

Injuries rack up for France in one area of the field

11
4

Ireland coach John Fogarty makes frank Tadhg Furlong admission

5
5

World Rankings record on the line in round two of the Six Nations

5
6

'I’m severely worried': Ex-players sound alarm over looming Irish crisis

12
7

Wales forced into emergency coach change during Six Nations

8

France-based South African back-rower set to answer Stormers SOS

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Long Reads

LONG READ

Freddie Steward and Fraser Dingwall are quietly becoming crucial for England

Wales thrashing comes with its caveats but the centre and full-back are making real strides in an England shirt

1
LONG READ

Wales brace themselves for French invasion knowing they simply have to do better

The French juggernaut will roll into Cardiff hellbent and demolishing any Welsh resistance and Steve Tandy's men must show smarts and grit

4
LONG READ

Johnnie Beattie: 'The Calcutta Cup showdown will decide Gregor Townsend's future, or whether it's time for Franco Smith'

Dogged by Scotland's brain fades, poor results and constant Red Bull speculation, this may be do or die for the long-serving coach.

8

Comments on RugbyPass

G
GrahamVF 11 minutes ago
The times are changing, and some Six Nations teams may be left behind

But isn’t having players who can play in multiple positions the essence of game time changes in tactics and the more versatile players the less predictable game outcomes?

286 Go to comments
S
SL 14 minutes ago
Wales brace themselves for French invasion knowing they simply have to do better

Selection is key.

First selection issue, the WRU appointing Tandy then not allowing him to pick his coaches. He is supposed to be ‘head coach’ but he also runs the defence!



...

4 Go to comments
N
NB 16 minutes ago
The times are changing, and some Six Nations teams may be left behind

Yes quite unexpected, as those four guys wd hv scrummed each other for years - Schoeman, Fagerson, Fischetti and Ferrari - and hv known each other inside out.

286 Go to comments
N
NB 19 minutes ago
The times are changing, and some Six Nations teams may be left behind

The depth of Sarries front row stocks has prob been the single biggest change since they copped the fine. I can still recall how they once had Koch, Figallo, Petrus d P and James Johnston all on the same roster. Then stuck Skelton behind them. Unreal.

286 Go to comments
N
NB 23 minutes ago
The times are changing, and some Six Nations teams may be left behind

Litmus test is often whether coaches are willing to make changes before half time! Eddie used to do it with Eng at his peak!

286 Go to comments
N
NB 30 minutes ago
The times are changing, and some Six Nations teams may be left behind

Coaches wd never agree that BIP is a meanningless metric. Period.😁

286 Go to comments
N
NB 40 minutes ago
The times are changing, and some Six Nations teams may be left behind



If you are building the same amount of rucks but kicking more is that a bad thing? Kicks are more constestable than ever, fans want to see a contest, is that a bad thing?

It’s good question. The ball-in-play time in both 6N was roughly the same - around 38’ - so those stats may be suggesting that more of the ruck are being set inside the opposing 22 now than they were then?



...

286 Go to comments
E
Eric Elwood 45 minutes ago
Huw Jones responds to concerns surrounding Scotland camp

Scotland can surely win but it will be extremely difficult. England are planning to strangle Scotland and not allow them to play. Like the SA-Scotland match in RWC 2023.

So even in good conditions the match might feel a lot like they will need to kick a lot.



...

8 Go to comments
E
Eric Elwood 52 minutes ago
Huw Jones responds to concerns surrounding Scotland camp

What’s with your nasty attitude? No way your from one of the six nations….vast majority of English don’t have you attitude?

8 Go to comments
J
JW 53 minutes ago
Opening salvos will dictate Australian Super Rugby Pacific fortunes

Had been getting a similar vibe everywhere to the comments in this article, bit of a low ebb after last years high (and a deflating end), what’s the goal for players this year Brett? Nations Champ is a pretty exciting thing, but maybe more so just for the nations who would like to win it? Whats the Wallabies season like, unsure if theres a hype possibility with TRCs replacement.

15 Go to comments
J
JW 59 minutes ago
Opening salvos will dictate Australian Super Rugby Pacific fortunes

I was wondering about opinion then on preference for fairer round robin or local derbies. Do you also like that Aussie sides don’t play the kiwis often, having either/both local, easier, games? Or is it just that you want your teams to be able to compete on even footing, with a level playing field, and do well?

15 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
Opening salvos will dictate Australian Super Rugby Pacific fortunes

Yeah so strange that while popularity numbers appear to continue going up everywhere that rugby tournaments aren’t popular internationally (with no NH comps shown in SH and vice versa you say). Actually, I think PREM might be on here at least.

I assume though that is the broadcasters over value themselves/demand? Wanting too much money for their comp.



...

15 Go to comments
A
Ace 1 hour ago
Another ex-player weighs in on new Jacques Nienaber theory in Ireland

I’m sure turdlette will bring a unique perspective, not seen by anyone else.

3 Go to comments
S
SK 1 hour ago
The times are changing, and some Six Nations teams may be left behind

If you are building the same amount of rucks but kicking more is that a bad thing? Kicks are more constestable than ever, fans want to see a contest, is that a bad thing? kicks create broken field situations where counter attacks from be launched from or from which turnover ball can be exploited, attacks are more direct and swift rather than multiphase in nature, is that a bad thing? What is clear now is that a hybrid approach is needed to win matches. You can still build phases but you need to play in the right areas so you have to kick well. You also have to be prepared to play from turnover ball and transition quickly from the kick contest to attack or set your defence quickly if the aerial contest is lost. Rugby seems healthy to me. The rules at ruck time means the team in possession is favoured and its more possible than ever to play a multiphase game. At the same time kicking, set piece, kick chase and receipt seems to be more important than ever. Teams can win in so many ways with so many strategies. If anything rugby resembles footballs 4-4-2 era. Now football is all about 1 striker formations with gegenpress and transition play vs possession heavy teams, fewer shots, less direct play and crossing. Its boring and it plods along with moves starting from deep, passing goalkeepers and centre backs and less wing play. If we keep tinkering with the laws rugby will become a game with more defined styles and less variety, less ways to win effectively and less varied body types and skill sets.

286 Go to comments
j
jb 3 hours ago
The times are changing, and some Six Nations teams may be left behind

I think that would be OK but hopefully we would see more ball in hand. I am not even sure of the idea myself but the current situation is a bit off. To be honest, I used to hate the blatant blocking so its no easy issue to solve.

286 Go to comments
D
DS 3 hours ago
World Rankings record on the line in round two of the Six Nations

This has to be the most meaningless comparison around, but I suppose it gives the opportunity for some meaningless articles.

[Please note, I only read it so I could give a meaningless comment. ]



...

5 Go to comments
D
DS 3 hours ago
Another ex-player weighs in on new Jacques Nienaber theory in Ireland

Definitely HH. While we're obviously keen to support Jacques anyway, the proof of the pudding IMHO is the Boks’ tackling which - apart from poor old Lood's unfortunate red card - is out of this world and the cream on the top of their defensive superiority. It's a joy to watch and goes back to my playing days when this standing-up concussion-causing nonsense was just a blip on the horizon. Jacques obviously did his bit towards that, and Jerry Flannery has finished it off. The Irish - and other countries’ - teams still need to get their heads around how important it is and their commentators too. Oh, and the Blitzbokke ook.

3 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 6 hours ago
Ireland vs Italy | Italy vs Ireland | Squads & Team Sheets | Six Nations Live

Italy by a lone point

2 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 6 hours ago
Another ex-player weighs in on new Jacques Nienaber theory in Ireland

Uh oh. It’s gone quiet around here…

Ireland may have performed better at the Stade de France had they adopted Nienaber’s aggressive defensive set-up rather than the system Andy Farrell deployed, which shipped a concerning 35 missed tackles.



...

3 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 6 hours ago
Huw Jones responds to concerns surrounding Scotland camp

I will be rooting for Scotland - but they really have to pull finger.

They’ve had an exciting group of players. But not the consistent results.



...

8 Go to comments
Close
ADVERTISEMENT