BEKA GORGADZE

The Georgian has battled back from injury to make his second World Cup

- Josh Graham 

SPEND JUST a minute in the company of Beka Gorgadze and you would never guess the issue that plagued him following the last Rugby World Cup in 2019.

The Pau back-rower is an immediately likeable character and quick to crack a joke when we sit down together in Tbilisi ahead of this year’s showpiece.

Gorgadze is now a Top 14 captain and bona fide Georgian legend, but it was in Japan four years ago when the then 23-year-old nailed down his spot as the country’s first-choice No 8.

And although his performances did not give it away, he admits by the time the tournament started he was already running on empty.

“What did I learn from 2019? Eat many more carbs! That’s a joke but it’s the reality too,” he says.

“It was physically and mentally tough because the preparation was hell, it was so hard, so maybe we left all our energy in that.

“Going into that Wales game, the first one, when you should feel the most confident because of your preparation, personally I was empty. That was quite remarkable for me and made me feel quite anxious. ‘Why have I done all that hard work? What’s going on with me now?