World Cup player profiles: Georgia

Editor

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.