Montpellier set to lose Test star to open door for All Blacks hopeful

Georgia hooker Vano Karkadze is set to leave Montpellier at the end of the season to join Pro D2 outfit Oyonnax, according to French outlet l’Equipe.

The 24-year-old has spent the last two seasons in the Top 14 with Montpellier, making 31 appearances, but has seen his playing time reduced this season, forcing him to look elsewhere.

He now looks set to link up with compatriot Vasil Lobzhanidze in France’s second division with an Oyonnax side that currently sit in eighth place in the league, 14 points adrift of promotion play-off places.

The pair were part of the victorious Georgia squad in the recent Rugby Europe Championship, both starting in the final against Spain, with Karkadze scoring a hat-trick. That took the hooker’s tally to eight tries in just 22 matches for his country.

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Top 14

Montpellier

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Stade Francais

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The move away from Montpellier may usher the arrival of Ricky Riccitelli from the Blues from New Zealand, who has been linked with a move to the Top 14 ever since he missed out on the All Blacks squad at the end of last year.

Montpellier already have Test hookers Christopher Tolofua (France) and Jordan Uelese (Australia) on their books, and with the emergence of teenager Lyam Akrab this season, the Georgian has been limited to just a solitary bench appearance for Montpellier in 2025, against the Lions in the Challenge Cup.

His last league appearance came way back in October against bottom-of-the-league Vannes. Even then, it was only 25 minutes from the bench. He did, however, start three of the opening four matches of the season.

With seven rounds remaining of the regular season, Montpellier sit in tenth place in the Top 14, but only five points off Castres in sixth place, who currently hold the final qualification spot for the play-offs. They also have a home clash with Gloucester in the Challenge Cup round of 16 next month.