Jaba Bregvadze to become first Georgian player in Super Rugby tournament

Georgia's national rugby team forward Jaba Bregvadze will become the first player from the country to play at the Super Rugby competition, promoted as the leading club tournament of the Southern Hemisphere.

Bregvadze, 30, was announced as a latest pick for the Sunwolves team, set to represent Japan in the 2018 season of the sporting event.

The former Worcester Warriors player will join the new team starting January 1 and play a full season for the Tokyo-based club that debuted in Super Rugby last year.

Launched in 1986, the competition is run by the SANZAAR (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina Rugby) rugby body and involves clubs from the four countries plus Japan.

The clubs pick the best players from the national championships of relevant countries and field the rosters for the international tournament.

Bregvadze has been picked by Sunwolves for the hooker position after he was recommended by Georgia's head coach Milton Haig to his counterpart for the Japanese team, Jamie Joseph.

Commenting on the news, the Georgian player spoke of the importance of physical preparation ahead of the start of the 2018 Super Rugby season, noting the championship's expected higher pace compared to his experience in the English Premiership.

Bregvadze has played 49 matches in the Georgian national team and represented the country at the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups.