'One of the strongest looseheads in the PREM': Abuladze set for return

Montpellier and Georgia loosehead Nika Abuladze has signed for Exeter Chiefs ahead of next season, as reported by RugbyPass.

The 30-year-old spent a year at Sandy Park, registering 16 appearances, before making the move to the Top 14 in 2024. He will now return to the club where he felt “appreciated”.

Abuladze could form an all-Georgian propping partnership with compatriot Bachuki Tchumbadze in Devon next season, who joined the club at the beginning of the season from Black Lion.

For now, the 126kg forward will want to end his time in the south of France on a high, with Montpellier currently sitting in sixth place in the league ahead of a clash with fifth-place Toulon, who sit one point ahead of them, on Saturday.

Third-place Exeter Chiefs, meanwhile, host fourth-place Bristol Bears in the Gallagher PREM on Saturday, with one point also separating the two sides.

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Exeter Chiefs

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“I feel like I’ve accomplished everything I can with Montpellier and so I’m delighted to return to Exeter Chiefs,” Abuladze said.

“Devon was a place where I always felt happy and appreciated, which I know I will continue to be when I return.”

Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter added: “We’re thrilled to be bringing Nika back to Exeter, we’ve got very fond memories of him from his time here. He was definitely one of the strongest scrummaging looseheads in the Prem in his time pre-injury. He went very well for us, helped us have a very dominant set piece.

“As we keep trying to build on the foundations we’re setting now, around how we want to play and strengthening the squad, Nika is a fantastic addition to that. The scrum and specifically our front row is an area in which we feel we’re strong and one in which we can keep developing.

“We’re glad to have him coming back. He was a very popular squad member in his previous stint, so I’m sure he’ll fit straight back in, working with Ross McMillan and Glen Townson to really help drive our pack of forwards. He’ll hopefully help us in our aim to return to winning trophies in the future.”