Friday 23 March 2018 10:31, UK
Ospreys have signed Georgia captain Giorgi Nemsadze from Bristol until the end of the season to help ease their forward problems.
The 33-year-old, who can play at lock or flanker, provides cover for injured duo Rory Thornton and Will Jones and also Justin Tipuric, who has been selected by Wales Sevens for the Commonwealth Games.
"Giorgi will add to the depth and experience available to the coaches at a crucial time of the season," said Ospreys general manager Dan Griffiths.
"He is physical and aggressive, as you'd expect with a Georgian forward. His country's success in recent years has been built around the pack and he has been a key part of that.
"He is captaining an international team that includes a number of players featuring at the top end of the sport and to be able to bring in someone with his quality and leadership attributes at this time of the season is a significant boost."
Nemsadze was first capped by Georgia in 2005 and has gone onto win 81 caps, scoring 13 tries.
He played in both the 2011 and 2015 World Cups and was part of the Georgia team that ran Wales close during last year's autumn Tests.
Earlier this month, Nemsadze captained Georgia to their seventh European Rugby Championship in eight years.
Ospreys sit second-bottom in Conference A of the Guinness PRO14 with four games remaining. They face Leinster at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.
