Georgia XV squad named for Argentina tour

A 35-man extended Georgia XV training squad has been named to prepare for a two-match tour of Argentina next month. Five players will be trimmed from the final selection of 30 that will play against the Jaguares in Mar del Plata on January 17 and Buenos Aires on January 24.

The group is almost entirely locally-based, with only two of the seven props named based elsewhere. Uncapped Nika Pataraia is attached to Dinamo Bucuresti in Romania while 27-test veteran Anton Peikrishvili recently finished a short-term contract with Agen in the French Top 14.

Peikrishvili is the most experienced player in the group and one of eight full internationals included. There are no World Cup travelers but hooker Giorgi Chkoidze and flyhalf Rezi Jinchvelashvili trained with the senior squad ahead of Japan. Loose forwards Giorgi Mchedlishvili and Guram Shengelia, scrumhalf Vazha Khutsishvili, and outside backs Anzor Sichinava and Irakli Svanidze are the other capped players.

FORWARDS
Nikoloz Abuladze (Kochebi), Zura Eristavi (Batumi), Shota Gogisvanidze (Batumi), Beka Gvaramia (Akademia), Nika Pataraia (Dinamo Bucuresti, RO), Anton Peikrishvili (Agen, FR), Revaz Tsiklauri (Aia), Giorgi Chkhoidze (Lelo Saracens), Goga Khuroshvili (Armazi), Beka Mamrikishvili (Batumi), Mikheil Babunashvili (Aia), Vano Berikashvili (Akademia), Sandro Koiava (Batumi), Tornike Zoidze (Akademia), Archil Abesadze (Lelo Saracens), Koba Jimsheleishvili (Batumi), Tornike Kiknadze (Jikebi), Dachi Kopadze (Jikebi), Giorgi Mchedlishvili (Jikebi), Vano Putkaradze (Batumi), Guram Shengelia (Aia)

BACKS
Koba Bujiashvili (Batumi), Vazha Khutsishvili (Kharebi), Giorgi Babunashvili (Aia), Rezi Jinchvelashvili (Jikebi), Davit Modzgvrishvili (Akademia), Nika Gigauri (Armazi), Guram Kandaurishvili (Batumi), Sandro Mamamtavrishvili (Lelo Saracens), Giorgi Natelashvili (Kharebi), Kote Marjanisvhili (Jikebi), Levan Narimanidze (Kharebi), Anzor Sichinava (Batumi), Irakli Svanidze (Jikebi), Akaki Tabutsadze (Lelo Saracens)