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Georgian international exits Stade Francais after six seasons

NANTES, FRANCE - OCTOBER 7: Giorgi Tsutskiridze, Merab Sharikadze and Mikheil Gachechiladze of Georgia walk on pitch after the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Wales and Georgia at Stade de la Beaujoire on October 7, 2023 in Nantes, France. (Photo by Levan Verdzeuli/Getty Images)

Lelos international Giorgi Tsutskiridze will be announced as a Black Lion player for the next two seasons, leaving the Top14 side, Stade Français, six years after arriving in France.

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His first team in France was Stade Aurillacois back in 2018 and he had an instant impact playing a key role for the famous Pro D2 club over the course of four seasons, moving to Paris in the Summer of 2022.

The 27-year-old had little game time while playing for the Parisian side, and the decision to go back home was the right one in order to wrestle for a starting spot in Richard Cockerill’s Georgia setup.

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With 36 caps and six tries, Tsutskiridze made his Men’s Rugby World Cup debut in 2023 and helped the Lelos raise the Men’s Rugby Europe Championship seven times.

With months still to spare for the start of the Rugby Europe Super Cup season, the Georgian franchise Black Lion will announce in the next couple of days three more signings: Vladimer Chachanidze (US Nevers – Pro D2), Guga Ghaniashvili (FC Grenoble – Pro D2), and Vasil Kakovin (Stade Français – Top14).

Loosehead prop, Kakovin, who had spells at Stade Toulousain, CA Brive, Racing 92, and Stade Français, made his last match for Georgia in 2016 and can be back in contention for the Lelos Summer Tour.

24-year-old lock Lado Chachanidze ends his adventure in France as his contract wasn’t extended by USO Nivernaise, departing back to his home country.

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Ghaniashvili is one of the most talented prospects in the Georgian front row but exits Grenoble without debuting for the top senior team.

The three-time Rugby Europe Super Cup winners are eyeing a fourth successful campaign and hope to add a few more scalps in the EPCR Challenge Cup, after defeating the Scarlets in December of 2023.

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J
JW 3 hours ago
Why NZR's Ineos settlement may be the most important victory they'll enjoy this year

I wouldn’t think the risk is cash flow, as they have large cash reserves they said all through covid.


I suspect the author has it completely wrong as it pertains to the pool as well, because I can’t see the contracts of players changing year to year like revenue does.


I’d imagine there is an agreed principle to a ‘forecast’ figure of revenue for a cyclical period, and this is what 37% or whatever of is used for player salaries. So it would not change whatever that figure is until the next cycle. Cash flow, as you said, would be the main factor, but as they aren’t paid all it once, they’d not be hindered in this manor I don’t believe. Of all the references I’ve seen of a the player pool agreement, not once have I seen any detail on how the amount is determined.


But yes, that would be a very reasoned look at the consequences, especially compared those I’ve seen in articles on this site. Even with turnonver north of $350 million a year, 20 is still a sizeable chunk. Like this RA’s broadcast deal, they might have smaller sponsorship for a short period to align with everything else, then look to develop the deal further heading into the Lions tour cycle? Perhaps trying to take a deal from low to high like that is unlikely to a long term investor, and NZR want to get a good shortterm deal now so they can capitalize on growth for the Lions (i’m assuming that series has consequences on more than just broadcast deals right).

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