Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

Video Spacer

Damian de Allende – Walk the Talk Trailer | RPTV

Springbok Damian de Allende joins Jim Hamilton for a fascinating chat about all things Springbok rugby, including RWC2023 and the upcoming Ireland series. Watch it exclusively on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

Video Spacer

Damian de Allende – Walk the Talk Trailer | RPTV

Springbok Damian de Allende joins Jim Hamilton for a fascinating chat about all things Springbok rugby, including RWC2023 and the upcoming Ireland series. Watch it exclusively on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

M
MS 1 hour ago
Andy Farrell answers burning Owen Farrell Lions question

I can understand negotiations for Kinghorn, White, and Ribbans. All three are playing very, very well at the current time. Kinghorn has been a leading contended for some time now; Ribbans looks as powerful as he’s ever been; while on the evidence of the most recent Six Nations, White benches behind JGP at Scrumhalf.


However, noone in their right mind should be considering Kyle Sinckler, Courtney Lawes, nor Owen Farrell. Sinckler looks unfit and can barely move around the field with any great urgency. He would be a liability on tour to Australia. Lawes is clearly ‘enjoying life’ in ProD2, and his rugby looks every bit second tier level now.


As for Farrell, not only has he been plagued by poor form and injury since moving to Racing, even the much vaunted ‘kicking record’ has long since been debunked as a USP with a percentage that simply does not stand up to scrutiny. That leaves only the intangible (desperate…) claim he would add ‘leadership’, which in a Lions squad resplendent with talent and international caps is I’m afraid, much like Farrell, a complete non-starter.


Willis is the elephant in the room…a leader and standout option for one of the best club teams in the World. Yet still a relative unknown at Test Match level. I could well see him being included on the tour - and it would prove quite the headache for the RFU if he delivers. But Back Row is so competitive across all three positions, and with genuine World Class talent there too. I’m just not sure the Lions need him.

4 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Morgane Bourgeois’ Women's Six Nations notebook: The first edition Morgane Bourgeois’ Women's Six Nations notebook: The first edition
Search