Tuesday 25 September 2018 16:49, UK
Former England and Lions coach Graham Rowntree has been named forwards coach for Georgia.
The 47-year-old will hold the post for a period which includes next year's World Cup in Japan.
Rowntree was a loosehead prop for Leicester and England as a player, earning 54 international caps and playing at two World Cups.
He went on to coach the England pack - and also went on the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours as forwards coach.
He subsequently had a spell at Harlequins but left in the summer.
Georgia are among the global game's less established nations but they consistently field hard-nosed packs capable of mixing it with any opposition and have a conveyor belt of rugged props.
"I've not felt like this before about a role. Obviously this is the most excited I've been for any role - as an Englishman coaching the Georgian forward pack," Rowntree said.
"But I've been a fan of Georgian forwards play for a long time and I could not miss the opportunity to be associated with such a forward pack.
"I hope to get the best out of them with such a big year coming up."
Georgia have been drawn in Pool D for next year's Rugby World Cup alongside Australia, Wales, Fiji and Uruguay
