Record cap holder Davit Kacharava lands top role with Georgia

With an almost unanimous mandate, Davit Kacharava has achieved a landslide victory in the vote to decide the next President of the Georgian Rugby Union.

The 40-year-old former centre, who holds the record for most Lelos appearances with 122 caps, secured 57 out of 58 votes, having originally been nominated by 33 full members of the Union.

Kacharava succeeds Ioseb Tkemaladze, who led the organisation for four successful years.

Debuting internationally in 2006, Kacharava competed in four Rugby World Cups (2007, 2011, 2015, 2019) and won the Rugby Europe Championship an incredible 11 times. He scored 25 tries for his country before hanging up his boots in 2020.

After retiring, Kacharava served as Chairman of the Georgian Rugby Union Board for four years.

In his new role, Kacharava aims to advance youth rugby development, enhance infrastructure, and bolster coaching resources. His vision aligns with Georgia’s ambition to secure a place in elite international competitions, leveraging its growing reputation in global rugby.

“This is a tremendous responsibility,” Kacharava said. “My goal is to elevate Georgian rugby globally, starting with youth programs to build a strong foundation for future success. We aim to compete at the highest levels, supported by world-class administration.”

Reflecting on his presidency, Tkemaladze said, “Our achievements in recent years were remarkable given the challenges. Davit’s distinguished career makes him the right leader to take Georgian rugby forward. I wish him and the rugby community every success.”