Georgia's Niniashvili seeks to maintain his "wild" attitude at his fresh destination, La Rochelle club
Georgian Talent Niniashvili Shines in La Rochelle
In a thrilling turn of events, 23-year-old rugby sensation, Niniashvili, has made a significant impact at his new club, La Rochelle, since joining during the close-season.
Hailing from Tbilisi, Georgia, Niniashvili left his homeland as a teenager and settled in Montpellier in 2021. His journey, however, didn't stop there. He recently moved to La Rochelle, a city with a population of barely 80,000, marking a new chapter in his career.
Niniashvili's impressive performances have earned him a place among French rugby's most dangerous attackers. In 76 appearances, he has scored an impressive 26 tries, culminating in his victory in the 2022 Challenge Cup at Lyon.
His debut for La Rochelle was a memorable one, making his mark on the wing in last weekend's win over Clermont. The club has also bolstered its ranks with the addition of Nolann Le Garrec, a fleet-footed France scrum-half, this summer.
La Rochelle's ground, with a capacity of 18,000 this season, has been sold-out for more than 100 games in a row, a testament to the excitement surrounding the team. The city will host Toulon on Sunday at 1905 GMT, following Perpignan's clash with Racing 92 and Montpellier's match against Toulouse, both starting at 1630 GMT on Saturday.
Niniashvili's dream of playing in France has come true, and he is not alone. Two other Georgians, Nika Sutidze (hooker) and Aleksandre 'Sandro' Kuntelia (prop), could also join him at La Rochelle. Niniashvili and Kuntelia have played together for the Georgian national team since they were 16.
As a young boy, Niniashvili looked up to All Black full-backs Ben Smith and Israel Dagg, inspired by their skills on the field. Today, he is living his dream, contributing to the exciting rugby landscape in France.
Meanwhile, Clermont will be without suspended ex-Australia lock Rob Simmons in their match against Pau. Montauban will travel to Champions Cup holders Bordeaux-Begles on Saturday, completing the schedule for the weekend's Top 14 matches. The four middle games on Saturday have been moved back two hours to avoid a clash with France's Women's Rugby World Cup semi-final with England.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
