Rugby: Georgia’s Gorgodze in 2015 World XV

The captain of Georgia's national rugby team has been named among the best 15 rugby players of 2015 by a leading New Zealand newspaper The New Zealand Herald.

Mamuka Gorgodze was ranked eights.

"This dude played only 45 minutes against the All Blacks at the World Cup and he was the official man of the match," wrote Gregor Paul, the author of the list.

"He's huge, agile, smashes people off the ball and, despite being the size of a house, motors around and keeps up with the ball."

Paul, who is the Herald on Sunday’s rugby writer, selected his World XV for 2015 which featured six All Blacks, three Australians and Argentinians, and one Fijian, Georgian and Scotsman. The list did not include any anyone from South Africa, England, Ireland, Wales or France.

This was not the first time Gorgodze was honoured for his incredible performances on the pitch this year. He was named in the World Rugby Team of the Year by sports website www.allsportsnews.co.uk earlier this month as well as in Rugby World Cup Dream Team last month.