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Combative Georgian flanker Kolelishvili retires after two year battle with concussion

Viktor Kolelishvili /Getty

Ferocious Georgian forward Viktor Kolelishvili has been forced into an early retirement at the age of 30 after losing a two-year fight to regain his fitness.

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Viktor ‘Vito’ Kolelishvili last played for Clermont in October, 2018. The Tbilisi born took a two-year break from the game in an attempt to recover from multiple concussive injuries but unfortunately was not able to return to professional rugby.

The 6’4, 106kg flanker was known across Europe for his confrontational style of play, big hits and tendency to find himself on the wrong side of the referee.

He infamously pushed referee Wayne Barnes, who was too close to the defensive line, during a European Champions Cup between the Clermont and the Ospreys in 2016.

While his career with Clermont was a high point on a club level, his half-century of appearances for the Georgian national team will be what Kolelishvili will be most fondly remembered for. His distinctive hairstyle made him standout, as did his discipline. He received eight yellow cards during his ten years of service for The Lelos on the international stage.

Dato Sandroshvili wrote on Twitter: “He was probably one of the last remaining old school Georgian rugby players. Desperately sad to see his career cut short by injury.”

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1 Comment
D
Daniel 805 days ago

Now he's getting better and working as coach for Clermont U18 :-)

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MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


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