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Georgia name 35-man squad for Autumn Nations Cup
By Ian Cameron
Georgia have named a 35-man strong squad for the Autumn Nations Cup, dubbed by some the Eight Nations. Georgia replaced Japan in the tournament after the Brave Blossoms pulled out over concerns around the pandemic.
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“35 rugby players have been selected for this stage, but it is not ruled out that players will be replaced during the tournament, for which we have selected a reserve,” said head coach of the Lelos, Levan Maisashvili.
“As we agreed, Mikheil Alania will join us for ‘Eight Nations’, who played several games for ‘Auriac’. We were also joined by Mikheil Gachechiladze and Mirian Modebadze, who recovered from the injury much earlier than planned. He will play for ‘Aia’ against ‘Jiki’ and ‘Ares’ for a limited time before the national team meeting. We have added a promising player Luka Matkava, who will increase the depth of a specific position. ”
#Georgia|n #TheLelos team is selected for the inaugural @autumnnations Autumn Nations Cup 2020 pic.twitter.com/WJFid2NWA9
— Shalva Tsiskarashvili (@tsiskarashvili) October 31, 2020
GEORGIA AUTUMN NATIONS SQUAD:
Front row: Mikheil Nariashvili (62 caps, 10 points), Guram Gogichashvili (15 caps, 5 points), Lekso Kaulashvili (1), Shalva Mamukashvili (75 caps, 50 points), Jaba Bregvadze (59 caps, 20 points), Giorgi Chkoidze (11 caps, 5 points), Giorgi Melikidze (20 caps, 5 points), Beka Gigashvili (14 caps, 5 points); Second row: Nodar Cheishvili (26 caps), Grigor Kerdikoshvili (2 caps, 5 points), Lasha Jayani (2 caps), Giorgi Javakhia (2 caps), Kote Mikautadze (64 caps, 10 points); Back row: Mikheil Gachechiladze (10 caps, 10 points), Beka Gorgadze (28 caps, 40 points), Beka Saghinadze (13 caps, 5 points), Otar Giorgadze (26 caps, 25 points), Giorgi Tkhilaishvili (58 caps, 60 points) Points), Tornike Jalaghonia (1 cap); Scrumhalves: Vasil Lobzhanidze (52 caps, 40 points), Gela Aprasidze (26 caps, 24 points), Mikheil Alania; Flyhalves: Tedo Abzhandadze (16 caps, 104 points), Lasha Khmaladze (83 caps, 53 points), Luka Matkava; Centres: Merab Sharikadze (67 caps, 62 points), Giorgi Kveseladze (25 caps, 20 points), Deme Tapladze (3 caps, 5 points), Mirian Modebadze (13 caps, 30 points); Wings: Akaki Tabutsadze (3 caps, 30 points), Sandro Todua (86 caps, 70 points), Tamaz Mchedlidze (58 caps, 35 points), Sandro Svanidze; Fullbacks: Soso Matiashvili (28 caps, 152 points), Davit Niniashvili.
The Georgian squad will gather in full force next week and will leave for England, where they will play Eddie Jones’ men on November 14 at Twickenham. Kote Mikautadze, who recently signed a 3-month contract with ‘Bayonne’, will miss the match against and but will be added to the Lelos after November 14th.
