Georgian front-rower Shalva Mamukashvili will join Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2020/21 season after agreeing a move to the East Midlands club.
The 29-year-old has made 73 Test appearances for The Lelos since his international debut in 2011 and represented his home nation at both the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups.
Mamukashvili’s career began in Georgia as a 17-year-old with RC Kochebi, from where he was selected for the national side, before moving to Armia Tbilisi for four seasons.
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— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) March 2, 2020
We will welcome Georgian international Shalva Mamukashvili to the club ahead of the 2020/21 season.
ℹ️ https://t.co/a7hDzgwxIQ pic.twitter.com/giVwGU0Bp6
In 2014, he was signed by Sale Sharks and spent a season in the English Premiership before stints in Scotland with the Glasgow Warriors, France with Montpellier, Toulon and US Carcassonne.
During his time with Toulon, the front-rower worked with current Tigers assistant coach Mike Ford.
Mamukashvili moved home to Georgia in 2018 to join Locomotive before linking up with Enisei-STM ahead of representing Georgia at the recent Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy said the addition of Mamukashvili to Leicester’s front-row stocks was an exciting prospect.
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“Shalva is a well-travelled, experienced young man who offers us a unique, exciting option in the front-row,” said Murphy.
“This club has welcomed front-rowers from all over the globe and we’re confident Shalva can be another international success story for us at Tigers.
“Nobody plays 70-odd Test matches and for the quality outfits that Shalva has, unless you are a hard-working, motivated professional and in the conversations and meetings we have had with him, we’ve seen that in spades.
“Supporters should be excited about Shalva’s arrival and what he will bring to this club, on and off the pitch.”
HIGHEST PAID RUGBY PLAYERS – 2020
You might be shocked to find out what the highest paid rugby players make.
Here are the 20 richest rugby players in the world for 2020
20. Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks) – £500,000
The Springbok playmaker enters the list after signing a new contract with the Premiership club.
19. Paddy Jackson (London Irish) – £500,000
The number 10 reportedly earns more than his ex-international teammate Sean O’Brien at the Exiles, who pockets a hefty £450,000 wage packet.
18. Sergio Parisse (Toulon) – £500,000
Italy’s captain has been a star for more years than most can remember and continues to be paid big money for his services at No.8 by Toulon.
17. Kieran Read (Toyota Verblitz) – £519,000
16. Finn Russell (Racing 92) – £535,000
Doubled his money by succeeding Carter at Racing 92 after switching from Glasgow Warriors with the Scottish Rugby Union unable to come anywhere near matching the money he was offered by the Top 14 club.