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Milton Haig has confirmed his final 31-man Georgia squad for the Rugby World Cup. As expected, former captain Mamuka Gorgodze is recalled after a two-year self-imposed exile. His inclusion makes it 18 returnees from RWC 2015.
The Lelos will arrive in Japan with one of the most experienced squads in the tournament. There are 15 players boasting 50 or more caps, with Mikheil Nariashvili set to become one more if he plays against Scotland this coming Friday.
Gorgodze’s selection as a lock/flanker comes at the expense of Nodar Cheishvili, with 20-year-old Racing 92 loosehead Guram Gogichasvili getting the nod ahead of veteran Karlen Asieshvili. Giorgi Aptsiauri is the odd man out in the outside backs, with the international career of Merab Kvirikashvili likely now at an end after 115 tests for his country.
Georgia will compete in Pool D at the World Cup, along with Australia, Wales, Fiji, and Uruguay. They will face Los Teros on September 29 in Kumagaya.
A detailed squad list can be seen here.
FORWARDS
Levan Chilachava (Montpellier, FR), Beka Gigashvili (Grenoble, FR), Guram Gogichashvili (Racing 92, FR), Giorgi Melikidze (Stade Français, FR), Mikheil Nariashvili (Montpellier, FR), Jaba Bregvadze (Sunwolves, JP), Vano Karkadze (Aurillac, FR), Shalva Mamukashvili (Enisei STM, RU), Mamuka Gorgodze (Toulon, FR), Kote Mikautadze (Montpellier, FR), Giorgi Nemsadze (Ospreys, UK), Shalva Sutiashvili (Charente, FR), Otar Giorgadze (Brive, FR), Beka Gorgadze (Bordeaux Bègles, FR), Lasha Lomidze (Doncaster Knights, UK), Beka Saghinadze (Aurillac, FR), Giga Tkhilaishvili (Batumi)
BACKS
Gela Aprasidze (Montpellier, FR), Giorgi Begadze (Lokomotivi), Vaso Lobzhanidze (Brive, FR), Tedo Abzhandadze (Aia Kutaisi), Lasha Khmaladze (Batumi), Lasha Malaguradze (VVA, RU), Davit Kacharava (Enisei STM, RU), Giorgi Kveseladze (Armazi), Tamaz Mchedlidze (Agen, FR), Merab Sharikadze (capt., Aurillac, FR), Zurab Dzneladze (Lokomotivi), Mirian Modebadze (Aia Kutaisi), Sandro Todua (Batumi), Soso Matiashvili (Lelo Saracens)
