Full-strength Georgia named for November tests

Milton Haig has named a 34-man group to attend a three-day training camp in Montpellier to prepare for the November internationals. Georgia will play host to North American sides Canada and the USA in Tbilisi with a trip to Cardiff to face Wales on November 18 in between.

The Lelos will be at their full powers for November, with a dozen players based in the French Top 14 including ten forwards. Props Zurab Zhania and Davit Kubriashvili are recalled after missing out on the June tests as is second row Vakhtang Maisuradze and flanker Shalva Sutiashvili.

There will be no shortage of experience with more than 1300 caps in all and an impressive 11 boasting more than 50 on their records. Test centurions Davit Kacharava and Merab Kvirikashvili are set to be joined by Giorgi Chkhaidze, who will reach 100 caps should be play in all three tests.

Two uncapped players are named in the backs in strongly-built centre Giorgi Kveseladze and dynamic fullback Mirian Modebadze. The duo were part of the World Rugby u20 Championship side earlier this year along with Montpellier scrumhalf Gela Aprasidze.

Notable absentees include injured back row Beka Gorgadze and winger Giorgi Pruidze, while heavyweight Agen three quarter Tamaz Mchedlidze is surprisingly left out. Towering Chambéry second row Nodar Cheishvili is another who has failed to make the cut.

Former captain and talisman Mamuka Gorgodze has not been included having announced his retirement from test rugby earlier in the year. He could however make a surprise appearance against the USA having previously indicated his desire to play one last game on home soil.

FORWARDS
Karlen Asieshvili (Brive, FR), Mikheil Nariashvili (Montpellier, FR), Zurab Zhvania (Stade Français, FR), Badri Alkhazashvili (Toulon, FR), Jaba Bregvadze (Krasy Yar, RU), Shalva Mamukashvil (Carcassonne, FR), Soso Bekoshvili (Brive, FR), Levan Chilachava (Toulon, FR), David Kubriashvili (Montpellier, FR), Giorgi Chkhaidze (Domont, FR), Vakhtang Maisuradze (Vannes, FR), Kote Mikautadze (Montpellier, FR), Giorgi Nemsadze (Bristol, UK), Beka Bitsadze (Narbonne, FR), Otar Giorgadze (Clermont Auvergne, FR), Vito Kolelishvili (Clermont Auvergne, FR), Lasha Lomidze (London Irish, UK), Shalva Sutiashvili (Charente, FR), Giga Tkhilaishvili (Batumi)

BACKS
Gela Aprasidze (Montpellier, FR), Giorgi Begadze (Lokomotivi), Vaso Lobshanidze (Brive, FR), Rezi Jinchvelashvili (Armazi), Lasha Khmaladze (Lelo Saracens), Lasha Malaghuradze (Krasny Yar, RU), Davit Kacharava (Enisei STM, RU), Giorgi Koshadze (Kharebi), Giorgi Kveseladze (Armazi), Merab Sharikadze (Aurillac, FR), Soso Matiashvili (Akademia), Sandro Todua (Lelo Saracens), Merab Kvirikashvili (Lelo Saracens), Mirian Modebadze (Aia), Beka Tsiklauri (Lokomotivi)

FIXTURES
Nov 11 – vs Canada – Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi
Nov 18 – vs Wales – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Nov 25 – vs USA – Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi