GEORGIA INTRODUCTION
Georgia will play in a sixth consecutive Rugby World Cup at France 2023 after finishing above the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Russia and Spain in the Rugby Europe Championship across 2021 and 2022.
The Lelos, who have won nine of the last 10 titles in the Rugby Europe Championship or its equivalent, are not a side to underestimate on the world stage as their performance at Rugby World Cup 2015 showed. Georgia finished third in their pool in England – their best performance in a Rugby World Cup – with then captain Mamuka Gorgodze, their record try-scorer, named Player of the Match against New Zealand.
Georgia have unveiled some exciting youngsters over the last eight years, including scrum-half Vasil Lobzhandize who became the youngest player in RWC history in 2015. At Japan 2019, two rising stars made their debut in hooker Vano Karkadze, the youngest player in the tournament, and fly-half Tedo Abzhandadze only months after playing in the World Rugby U20 Championship. Come France 2023, the promising full-back Davit Niniashvili could be the next player to make a lasting impression for the Lelos.
Georgia have long been renowned for their forwards, but are now developing an exciting backline that means they will surely be a team to watch closely during Rugby World Cup France 2023.