Georgia name 40-man Nations Cup squad with Niniashvili and five uncapped debutants

Georgia have named a 40-man squad for the first three rounds of the Nations Cup, with new head coach Pierre-Henri Broncan taking a star-studded group to South America for fixtures against Uruguay, Samoa and Chile in July.

La Rochelle’s Davit Niniashvili, one of the central figures in Georgia’s attacking game, is included alongside Exeter Chiefs prop Bachuki Tchumbadze — who reached the Premiership final last season — Bristol Bears flanker Luka Ivanishvili, La Rochelle front-rower Aleksandre Kuntelia, and SU Oyonnax scrum-half Vasil Lobzhanidze.

Broncan, who assumed control of the Lelos in June and is assisted by former Italy lock Marco Bortolami, will have six uncapped players available for potential debuts: lock Saba Pesvianidze (CS Bourgoin), flankers Rati Zazadze (US Nevers) and Giorgi Sinauridze (Black Lion), fly-half Davit Imnadze (Tbilisi Tsikara), centre Kvicha Jgerenaia (SCM USV Timișoara), and winger Roma Makhatadze (Black Lion).

The most significant absentees are co-captain and back-rower Beka Gorgadze and Stade Français centre Giorgi Melikidze, both ruled out due to the mandatory rest period imposed by the Top 14. Gorgadze had an outstanding season with Section Paloise, scoring six tries and recording an 87 per cent tackle success rate as Pau reached the knockout stages for the first time in 23 years. He last appeared for Georgia in March, scoring in a narrow 19-17 defeat to Portugal.

Georgia’s Nations Cup campaign opens on 4 July against Uruguay’s Teros, before they face Samoa on 11 July and Chile on 18 July. The tour comes after the Lelos narrowly missed out on a record-extending 18th Men’s Rugby Europe Championship title, making it a significant early test for Broncan’s tenure.

Georgia squad for July

Forwards: Giorgi Akhaladze (ASM Clermont), Guram Gogichashvili (Racing 92), Nika Abuladze (Montpellier), Nikoloz Sutidze (La Rochelle), Luka Petriashvili (US Nevers), Vakhtang Jincharadze (Black Lion), Aleksandre Kuntelia (La Rochelle), Bachuki Tchumbadze (Exeter Chiefs), Giorgi Pertaia (FC Grenoble), Lado Chachanidze (Stade Montois), Mikheil Babunashvili (Kutaisi Aia), Kote Mikautadze (CA Brive), Giorgi Javakhia (Soyaux-Angoulême), Saba Pesvianidze (CS Bourgoin), Temur Tsulukidze (US Oyonnax), Luka Ivanishvili (Bristol Bears), Ilia Spanderashvili (Valence Romans), Tornike Jalagonia (Provence Rugby), Ioane Iashaghashvili (Stade Montois), Rati Zazadze (US Nevers), Beka Shvangiradze (Lyon OU), Andro Dvali (USA Perpignan), Otar Giorgadze (Kutaisi Aia), Giorgi Sinauridze (Kutaisi Aia).