Outwith the Six Nations spotlight, emerging nations jostle for position in another thrilling REC - with the added carrot of Rugby World Cup qualification.
The Autumn Nations Series 2024 resumes this weekend and the southern hemisphere sides will hope to continue their dominance.
The 2024/2025 season of the French Pro D2 is about to start, and the number of international players keeps growing with the likes of Courtney Lawes, George North, Chris Farrell, and Curwin Bosch having joined it.
It is a done deal. Tedo Abzhandadze will move to Stade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne, joining his fellow Georgian teammates Luka Nioradze, Lasha Mchelidze, Mikheil Alania, and a few others, by signing a contract with the Pro D2 team for the next two seasons.
Georgia stalwarts Luka Matkava and Tedo Abzhandadze are in the process of negotiating the next step os their careers next step, with the Pro D2 in the horizon for both fly-halves.
Portugal came within a last minute penalty of winning their first ever Rugby World Cup match, but had to settle for an 18-18 draw with Georgia in the end in Toulouse.Â
Georgia head coach Levan Maisashvili has made eight changes to his starting XV from the team that lost 35-15 to Australia as he today named his side for the Pool C match against Portugal in Toulouse on Saturday.
Georgia coach Levan Maisashvili predicts he will beat a Tier One nation at the Rugby World Cup having almost lost his life to Covid-19.
Georgia have claimed the 2023 Rugby Europe Championship with an impressive 31-11 win over Portugal in Badajoz, Spain.