World Cup player profiles: Georgia
Ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, we take a look at all of the players set to feature in England. Next up, Georgia.
Forwards: Mikheil Nariashvili, Kakha Asieshvili, Simon Maisuradze, Shalva Mamukashvili, Jaba Bregvadze, Davit Zirakashvili, Dudu Kubriashvili, Levan Chilachava, Giorgi Chkhaidze, Levan Datunashvili, Giorgi Nemsadze, Kote Mikautadze, Mamuka Gorgodze, Shalva Sutiashvili, Vito Kolelishvili, Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, Lasha Lomidze.
Backs: Merab Kvirikashvili, Beka Tsiklauri, Giorgi Aptsiauri, Sandro Todua, Tamaz Mtchedlidze, Muraz Giorgadze, Giorgi Pruidze, Davit Katcharava, Merab Sharikadze, Lasha Malaghuradze, Lasha Khmaladze, Giorgi Begadze, Vazha Khutsishvili, Vasil Lobzhanidze.
GIORGI APTSIAURI
Fly-half 1.78m 89kg 29.11.1994
Aptsiauri currently plays for AIA Kutaisi in the Georgia Championship. The youthful fly-half produced solid performances for AIA Kutaisi, which resulted in his Test debut for Georgia in 2014.
KAKHA ASIESHVILI
Prop 1.83m 116kg 21.04.1987
Asieshvili currently plays club rugby in France for Brive. He moved to France in 2010 joining Orthez in a one-year stint, before joining Aurillac for two year from 2011, making 44 appearances. A solid scrummager and fierce on defence, Asieshvili made his Test debut for Georgia in 2008.
GIORGI BEGADZE
Scrum-half 1.78m 73kg 04.03.1986
Begadze started out playing for Tbilisi Caucasians in the European Rugby Challenge Cup. He currently plies his trade for RC Kochebi Bolnisi in the Georgia Championship. The nippy scrum-half made his Test bow for Georgia in 2011 and has since been a regular campaigner.
JABA BREGVADZE
Hooker 1.80m 90kg 23.04.1987
Bregvadze currently plies his trade for Kochebi Bolnisi in the Georgia Championship. The slim hooker made his Test bow for Georgia in 2008 and went on to represent them at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, appearing in al four of their pool matches. Staggering performances at the World Cup caught the attention of the Toulouse coaching staff who offered him a two-year contract, which he accepted. He made 27 appearances and scored two tries for Toulouse before heading back to his native Georgia in 2014.
LEVAN CHILACHAVA
Prop 1.85m 120kg 17.08.1991
Chilachava currently plies his trade in France for Toulon. He joined Toulon in 2010 and has made over 40 appearances for them. The bulky prop produced solid performances for Toulon, which resulted in his Test debut for Georgia in 2012 and has since been a regular campaigner.
GIORGI CHKHAIDZE
Number eight 1.91m 106kg 24.06.1982
Georgian stalwart Chkhaidze made his Test debut back in 2002 and have been within the mould for over a decade earning over 80 caps. The loose forward went onto represent Georgia at the 2003 and 2011 Rugby World Cups. He moved to France in 2006 and has played for Racing 92, (where he won the Pro D2 in 2008 and 2009), Montpellier, Tarbes and currently he plies his trade for Federale 1 side Lille.
LEVAN DATUNASHVILI
Lock 1.96m 104kg 18.01.1983
Datunashvili made his Test bow for Georgia back in 2004 and went on to represent them at the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cups. The Georgian stalwart moved to France in 2006 and has played for Vierzon, Montlucon and Figeac. He currently plies his trade for Aurillac and has made over a 100 appearances since joining them in 2011. Datunashvili's World Cup experiences will be invaluable to Georgia's success at this year's global showpiece.
MURAZ GIORGADZE
Wing 1.83m 85kg 28.06.1994
Giorgadze has represented Tournefeuille, Graulhetois, Boulogne-Billancourt, Hendayeand and Agde. He currently plies his trade for Armazi in the Georgia Championship. The speedster made his Test bow in 2014 and has since been a regular campaigner.
MAMUKA GORGODZE
Flanker 1.95m 118kg 14.07.1984
Georgian stalwart, Gorgodze made his Test debut back in 2003 and have been representing Georgia for over a decade. The monster loose forward went on to represent them at the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cups. Gorgodze switched to rugby from basketball when he was 17, which resulted in him joining Lelo in the Georgian Top League in 2005. That same year Gorgodze moved to France joining Montpellier on a nine-year stint, making a 168 appearances and scoring 27 tries. He currently plays for reigning Top 14 and European champions Toulon, having signed with the club in 2014.
DAVIT KATCHARAVA
Centre 1.85m 86kg 16.01.1985
Katcharava made his Test bow back in 2006 for Georgia and went on to represent them at the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cups. The Georgian talisman currently plays for Yenisey-STM Krasnoyarsk in the Russian Championship. The midfielder moved to France in 2009 joining Nice for whom he made 42 appearances in a three-year stint. He had a short spell at Rodez before joining Yenisey-STM in 2013. With over 81-caps for Georgia, Katcharava experience will be invaluable for them at this year's World Cup.
LASHA KHMALADZE
Scrum-half 1.78m 78kg 20.01.1988
Khmaladze has been destined to play for Georgia since the start of his career. He currently plies his trade for Lelo in the Georgia Championship. The nippy scrum-half made his test bow for Georgia in 2008 and went on to represent them at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
VAZHA KHUTSISHVILI
Scrum-half 1.65m 73kg 27.06.1993
Khutsishvili currently plays for Rustavi Kharebi in the Georgia Championship. The nippy scrum-half made his Test bow for Georgia in 2013 and has since been a regular campaigner with over 20 Test matches.
VITO KOLELISHVILI
Number eight 1.92m 100kg 09.10.1989
Kolelishvili currently plays club rugby in France for Clermont. He started out playing for Lelo Saracens in the Georgia Championship, which resulted in his Test bow for Georgia in 2008. He went on to represent them at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The loose forward moved to France in 2011 joining Clermont on a two-year stint but a lack of game time saw him make the move to Lyon on a one-year loan. Kolelishvili joined Clermont in 2014.
DUDU KUBRIASHVILI
Prop 1.85m 114kg 12.03.1986
Kubriashvili made his Test debut for Georgia back in 2008 and went on to represent them at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The bulky prop moved to France in 2007, joining Montpellier on a one-year stint, but a lack of game time saw him make the move to Toulon in 2008. Kubriashvili became a regualar campaigner at Toulon, making 115 appearances in his five-year stint. He currently plies his trade for French stage, since joining them in 2013. Kubriashvili is a powerhouse at scrum-time and his experience will bring ease to the inexperienced players around him.
MERAB KVIRIKASHVILI
Scrum-half/Full-back 1.75m 78kg 27.12.1983
Kvirikashvili is Georgia's all-time leading points scorer, overtaking Pavle Jimsheladze's previous record during the 46–0 thrashing of Russia in 2012. The Georgian stalwart made his Test debut back in 2003 and went on to represent them at the 2003 and 2011 Rugby World Cups. Kvirikashvili left Georgia in 2006 joining Pro D2 side Pau, and has since moved onto to five French clubs: Massy, Figeac, Saint-Junien, Vienne and most recently Montlucon. He has not spent more than two seasons at one club during his stay in France.
VASIL LOBZHANIDZE
Scrum-half 1.77m 75kg 14.10.1996
Lobzhanidze currently plays for RC Armazi Tbilisi in the Georgia Championship. Staggering performances for RC Armazi Tbilisi saw him make his Test bow for Georgia in 2015 at the tender age of 19. Lobzhanidze will make history by breaking the record of the USA's Thretton Palamo as the youngest player in World Cup history.
LASHA LOMIDZE
Lock 1.96m 114kg 30.06.1992
Lomidze currently plies his trade in France for Beziers in the Rugby Pro D2. The towering lock made his Test bow for Georgia in 2013. His line-out expertise will be invaluable for them at this year's World Cup.
SIMON MAISURADZE
Flanker 1.80m 90kg 14.09.1986
Georgian stalwart, Maisuradze currently plies his trade in France for La Voulte-Valence in the French Federale 1 league. The slim flanker made his Test bow back in 2008 for Georgia.
LASHA MALAGHURADZE
Fly-half 1.83m 88kg 02.01.1986
Malaghuradze started out playing for Qochebi Tbilisi club where he won 2007 Georgia Championship. He currently plays club rugby in France for AS Beziers. The Georgian stalwart made his Test debut back in 2008 and went on to represent them at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
SHALVA MAMUKASHVILI
Hooker 1.78m 102kg 02.10.1990
Mamukashvili started out playing for Armia during the Georgia Championship, which resulted in his Test bow for Georgia in 2011 and has since been a regular campaigner. He currently plies his trade in England for the Sale Sharks after signing a two-year contract from 2014 to 2015.
KOTE MIKAUTADZE
Lock 1.98m 110kg 07.01.1991
Mikautadze currently plays for French club, Toulon in the Top 14 competition. The towering lock made his Test bow for Georgia in 2010 and has since been a regular campaigner with over 30 Test caps.
TAMAZ MTCHEDLIDZE
Wing 1.96m 108kg 17.03.1993
Mtchedlidze currently plies his trade in France for Mont-de-Marsan. The youthful speedster made his Test bow in 2013 and has already racked up over 30 caps for Georgia. Mtchedlidze brilliant attacking game will be invaluable for Georgia at this year's World Cup.
MIKHEIL NARIASHVILI
Prop 1.86m 118kg 25.05.1990
Nariashvili currently plays for Montpellier in the Top 14. He made his Test bow in 2012 and has since been a regular campaigner. Nariashvili is a powerhouse at scrum-time.
GIORGI NEMSADZE
Lock 1.96m 110kg 26.09.1984
Second row Nemsadze has been a key member of the Georgian pack for a decade, and plays his club rugby in France. After spells with Montauban and Massy, he currently plays for Tarbes. The Georgian stalwart made his Test bow in 2005 and went on to represent them at the 2011 Rugby world Cup.
GIORGI PRUIDZE
Centre/Wing 1.95m 105kg 02.06.1994
Pruidze currently plies his trade in Georgia for AIA Kutaisi in the Georgia Championship. He made his Test bow for Georgia in 2015.
MERAB SHARIKADZE
Centre 1.86m 87kg 17.05.1993
Sharikadze currently plies his trade for Stade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne in the Pro D2. The midfielder made his Test bow in 2012 and has since been a regular campaigner.
SHALVA SUTIASHVILI
Back-row 1.88m 96kg 24.01.1984
Sutiashvili currently plies his trade in France for RC Massy. He joined them in 2011 and has since been a stalwart for them, making over a 120 appearances and scoring 17 tries. Sutiashvili made his Test bow back in 2005 for Georgia and went on to represent them at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
GIORGI TKHILASHVILI
Flanker 1.76m 100kg 08.04.1991
Tkhilaishvili currently plays for Batumi RC in the Georgia Championship. He made his Test bow in 2012 and has since been a regular campaigner with over 20 appearances.
SANDRO TODUA
Wing 1.83m 82kg 02.11.1987
Todua currently plies his trade in Georgia for Tbilisi Caucasians in the European Rugby Challenge Cup. The Georgian stalwart made his Test bow back in 2008 for Georgia and went on to represent them in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, appearing in all four of their pool matches.
BEKA TSIKLAURI
Fly-half 1.78m 80kg 09.02.1989
Tsiklauri currently plays for Locomotive in the Georgia Championship. He made his Test bow back in 2008 for Georgia when they faced off against Italy A.
DAVIT ZIRAKASHVILI
Prop 1.78m 112kg 20.09.1983
Zirakashvili currently plies his trade in France for Clermont. He joined Clermont in 2004 and has since made a remarkable 240 appearances. The Georgian stalwart made his Test bow back in 2004 and went on to represent them at the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cup.