Georgia centre is added to the Kingsholm ranks
GLOUCESTER have confirmed the signing of Georgian international Giorgi Kveseladze.
Kveseladze will link up with the Cherry & Whites with immediate effect, following the conclusion of the Autumn Nations Cup.
The abrasive centre, put in a number of impressive performances across the international campaign, including a remarkable solo try in Ireland.
Chief Operating Officer, Alex Brown said: “We’ve been tracking Giorgi’s progress closely, and we were increasingly impressed by his performances, most notably in the Autumn international series.
“We are eager to see him test himself and develop in the Premiership, and he will add further strength in depth to our midfield.
“Giorgi will join up with the squad straight away, so we are looking forward to integrating him into the group as soon as we can.”
Upon signing his contract, Kveseladze said: “I am very proud to sign for such a traditional club. I know the club very well and I am really happy to have this opportunity to join Gloucester.”
Kveseladze had an impressive autumn series with The Lelos that included arguably the individual try of the season against Ireland.
That led Ireland legend Brian O’driscoll to take to Twitter to write: ‘If I was a European club looking for a centre next year (contract dependent) I’d be having a serious look at Giorgi Kveseladze (13) for Georgia on Saturday. Besides the excellent try, he really gets the defensive part of his game, too. Abrasive and hard-working. Could have been MOTM.’
Kveseladze, 23, has 24 caps for his country since making his debut in 2017 and has been working with Gloucester’s former director of rugby David Humphreys, who has been in a high-performance consultancy role
with Georgia after leaving the Cherry and Whites in the summer in the wake of head coach Johan Ackermann’s departure.
He was playing his club rugby with RC Armazi Marneuli in the Georgian championship, but at 6ft 1in and 100kg, and with plenty of agility and speed, it certainly looks like he has all the tools to make it at the top end of the game.
Kveseladze is reported to have signed a two-year deal at Kingsholm.
Gloucester’s current centre options are Billy Twelvetrees, 32, Mark Atkinson, 30, Chris Harris, 29, Henry Trinder, 31, and Matt Banahan, 33, but a number of those optionsare reaching the twilight of their careers, with Banahan retiring at the end of the season. Scotland international Harris is locked in, having signed a new contract with the club back in October.