Leicester bolster pack with Georgian international Mamukashvili

Leicester Tigers have announced that Georgia international Shalva Mamukashvili will join the club ahead of the 2020/21 season.

The 29-year-old has made 73 Test appearances for The Lelos since his debut in 2011 and represented his home nation at both the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups.

Mamukashvili’s career began in Georgia as a 17-year-old with RC Kochebi, from where he was selected for the national side, before moving to Armia Tbilisi.

In 2014, he was signed by Sale Sharks and spent a season in the Premiership before stints in Scotland with the Glasgow Warriors and in France with Montpellier, Toulon and US Carcassonne.

Mamukashvili moved home to Georgia in 2018 to join Locomotive before linking up with Enisei-STM ahead of the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy said the addition of Mamukashvili to Leicester’s front-row stocks was an exciting prospect.

“Shalva is a well-travelled, experienced young man who offers us a unique, exciting option in the front row,” said Murphy.

“This club has welcomed front-rowers from all over the globe and we’re confident Shalva can be another international success story for us at Tigers.

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“Nobody plays 70-odd Test matches and for the quality outfits that Shalva has unless you are a hard-working, motivated professional and in the conversations and meetings we have had with him, we’ve seen that in spades.

“Supporters should be excited about Shalva’s arrival and what he will bring to this club, on and off the pitch.”

Mamukashvili added: “It’s a great club, a very historical club and one of the most successful in England and the Premiership.

“I am motivated to give 100 per cent and have a good season at Tigers. I am looking forward to it.”

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