Georgian Hooker Shalva Mamukashvili joins Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow Warriors have signed Georgian international Shalva Mamukashvili on a deal until the end of the season.

The 25-year-old has 35 caps for his country and featured in all 4 of Georgia’s Rugby World Cup pool games in England.

He played 11 matches for Sale Sharks last season, including 3 European Rugby Champions Cup games.

The experienced hooker goes straight into the Warriors 41-man European squad, replacing Kevin Bryce. Glasgow visit Racing 92 on Saturday and then host Northampton Saints the following weekend, in front of a capacity crowd at Scotstoun.

Mamukashvili joins as cover at hooker, with both Kevin Bryce and Fergus Scott set for lengthy spells on the sidelines, while Fraser Brown is currently recovering from foot surgery.

Bryce and Scott have both undergone shoulder operations, following scans at BMI Ross Hall Hospital, and are expected to remain on the sidelines for several months.

Loose forward Jason Hill has had ankle surgery at BMI Ross Hall Hospital by orthopaedic surgeon Mr Robert Carter and is expected to remain on the sidelines for around 2 months.

Shalva Mamukashvili said: “Last season I watched the European Rugby Champions Cup and Guinness PRO12 and I know Glasgow Warriors are a really good club, I think they are one of the best in Europe.

“Playing against Argentina and New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup was a great experience and something which will help me at the Warriors.

“I arrived in Glasgow 10 days ago and all the players have been really welcoming.  Glasgow have a lot of international players, with around half of the Scotland team playing at Scotstoun and it’s a very professional team and I feel very good here.”

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend said: “We’re delighted to be able to add Shalva to our squad for the rest of the season, ahead of our European Rugby Champions Cup campaign.

“Shalva is a very experienced hooker, who has been playing international rugby for the last 4 years and played well for Georgia against the All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup. He was also at Sale Sharks last season, playing at a high level in the English Premiership and Champions Cup.

“He came down to Cardiff at the weekend and has been training with us for over a week, so he’s ready to play if selected.

“It’s very unfortunate for Kevin (Bryce) and Fergus (Scott) to have picked up shoulder injuries, and Jason (Hill) to be out with an ankle injury.

“Fergus has done well for us when called upon and Kevin had just come back from the Rugby World Cup ready to kick on this season. Jason had a really good pre-season, impressing against Clermont and Canada.

“We wish them all the best with their recovery.”

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