academy
GEORGIAN IRAKLI KOLBAIA JOINS SENIOR ACADEMY
Georgian back-row prospect Irakli Kolbaia is joining Newcastle Red Bulls’ senior academy.
The 18-year-old is already a star of the Georgian Under-20s side, for whom he played during the recent Junior World Championship, and arrives on a two-year deal.
Operating at No.8 or blind-side flanker, the 6-foot-2 forward joins from Lelo Saracens in Tbilisi, the home club of a host of Georgian greats including back-row icon Mamuka Gorgodze.
Irakli will combine his rugby commitments with a degree in business management, with the English-speaking forward relishing his move into the professional game.
It’s a big move coming to England from both a rugby and lifestyle perspective, but I’m really looking forward to it. I will definitely develop from being in that environment, and it’s just an exciting time all round.
He said: “I’m really excited by this huge opportunity and can’t wait to get started.
“My main goal is to keep learning every day from the players and coaches at Newcastle, and to work hard in pushing myself for selection.
“It’s a big move coming to England from both a rugby and lifestyle perspective, but I’m really looking forward to it. I will definitely develop from being in that environment, and it’s just an exciting time all round.
“I’ve been following the club closely on social media and watching their most recent matches, and it will be great to get started.”
Irakli becomes Newcastle Red Bulls’ first ever Georgian player, having spent the first six years of his rugby development playing for his home club of RC Poti on the Black Sea coast before relocating to Tbilisi for college.
Citing Gorgodze as being among his rugby heroes, he added: “It’s a big honour for me to be the first Georgian player at Newcastle Red Bulls, and I hope I will live up to the faith that has been put in me.”
His physicality when carrying and tackling in the U20 World Cup was impressive, even at the age of 18, and we look forward to seeing the further gains he will make with us in a full-time environment.
Newcastle Red Bulls academy and pathways director John Fletcher said: “Irakli is a player with huge potential who has already stood out in a big way at international age-grade level, and it’s great to be welcoming him into our senior academy.
“His physicality when carrying and tackling in the U20 World Cup was impressive, even at the age of 18, and we look forward to seeing the further gains he will make with us in a full-time environment.
“He speaks good English, which will help with his transition, and he has got all the raw materials to really push on.”
IRAKLI KOLBAIA BIOG
Position: Back row
Born: 16/12/2007
Height: 1.89m (6 foot 2)
Weight: 113kg (17 stone 11)
Honours: Georgia U20
