Ospreys Rugby today completed the signing of Giorgi Nemsadze, captain of the Georgian national team, on a short-term deal that runs until the end of the season.
- Nemsadze will provide cover across the second and back rows for the crucial end of season run-in as Ospreys chase a Champions Cup spot
- Captain Georgia to success in the recent European Rugby Championship and has 81 caps, including the close fought 13-6 win for Wales at Principality Stadium four months ago
- Has played in France for Montauban, Agen and Tarbes and in England with Bristol
The experienced Nemsadze can play in the second row and at flanker and his sizable presence will provide another option up front for the busy final weeks of the season as the Ospreys chase qualification for next season’s Champions Cup. He is 1.96m tall and weighs 120kg.
In addition to a number of long-term absentees, Will Jones underwent surgery last week while Justin Tipuric has been selected for the Wales Sevens squad at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
Dan Griffiths, Rugby General Manager, Ospreys Rugby, said:
“Giorgi will add to the depth and experience available to the coaches at a crucial time of the season. He is physical and aggressive, as you’d expect with a Georgian forward. His country’s success in recent years has been built around the pack and he has been a key part of that.
“He is captaining an international team that includes a number of players featuring at the top end of the sport and to be able to bring in someone with his quality and leadership attributes at this time of the season is a significant boost.”
First capped by the Lelos in 2005, 33-year old Nemsadze has 81 caps for Georgia, scoring 13 tries. He was involved in both the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups while last November he featured at the Principality Stadium as Georgia pushed Wales all the way, the hosts holding on at the death to win 13-6 in the first ever encounter between the two nations.
Nemsadze spent nine years in France, featuring for the likes of Montauban, Agen and Tarbes, and has been with Bristol since the summer of 2016. He has captained Georgia to European Rugby Championship (also known as Six Nations B) success over the last six weeks, the Lelos defeating Romania in Tblisi on Sunday to seal a seventh title in eight years.
Georgia are currently 12th in the World Rugby rankings ahead of the likes of Canada, Italy, Russia, Samoa, Tonga and USA.
We'll have Giorgi's first interview as an Osprey, exclusive on Ospreys TV, later today.
