Beka Gigashvili
{{short description|Georgian rugby union player}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Beka Gigashvili
| image = Beka Gigashvili 2019.jpg
| image_size = 150px
| caption = Gigashvili in 2019
| birth_place = Tbilisi, Georgia
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|2|17|df=yes}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = {{height|m=1.78}}
| weight = {{convert|118|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}
| position = Prop
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 =
| ru_amupdate =
| years1 = 2015-2017
| years2 = 2017-19
| years3 = 2019-
| clubs1 = Chambéry
| clubs2 = Grenoble
| clubs3 = Toulon
| apps1 = 46
| apps2 = 36
| apps3 = 78
| points1 = 30
| points2 = 5
| points3 = 45
| repteam1 = Georgia
| repyears1 = 2018-
| repcaps1 = 35
| reppoints1 = 25
| ru_ntupdate = 16 September 2019
| ru_clubupdate = 19 November 2018
}}
Beka Gigashvili ({{lang-ka|ბექა გიგაშვილი}}; born 17 February 1992) is a Georgian rugby union player. His position is prop, and he currently plays for RC Toulonnais in the Top 14 and the Georgia national team.{{cite web|url=https://www.allrugby.com/joueurs/beka-gigashvili-4412.html|title=La fiche rugby de : Beka GIGASHVILI|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/beka-gigashvili#|title=Beka Gigashvili|website=ultimaterugby.com}}
Rugby career
Gigashvilli was a latecomer to the sport, telling Midi Olympique that he had not seen a rugby match until he was 20 years old. Returning from the army, he was persuaded by a friend to join a training session- six months later, he signed for Spartak GM Moscow in Russia.{{cite web |last1=Illic-Ruffinatti |first1=Pierrick |title=Gigashvili : "Avant mes 20 ans, je n'avais jamais regardé un match de rugby" |url=https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/top-14/2018-2019/top-14-beka-gigashvili-toulon-avant-mes-20-ans-je-n-avais-jamais-regarde-un-match-de-rugby_sto7543449/story.shtml |website=Midi Olympique |access-date=3 August 2023}}
In France, Gigashvili helped SO Chambéry win the Jean Prat Trophy at the conclusion of 2016–17 Fédérale 1 season. His former coach, Cyril Villain, described Gigashvili as "versatile", "hard-working", and possessing "very good scrummaging" skills. He signed with Grenoble in 2017.{{cite web|title=BEKA GIGASHVILI SIGNS WITH FCG|url=http://fcgrugby.com/en/articles/2016/11/18/beka-gigashvili-signs-with-fcg|website=fcgrugby.com}}
Following the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Gigashvili signed with Toulon, a move he described as being influenced by previous successful spells at the club for compatriots including Mamuka Gorgodze, Levan Chilachava and Konstantin Mikautadze. He made his debut in a 20-13 win against Bayonne in the 2019-20 European Rugby Challenge Cup in November 2019.{{cite web |last1=Illic-Ruffinatti |first1=Pierrick |title=Gigashvili : "Avant mes 20 ans, je n'avais jamais regardé un match de rugby" |url=https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/top-14/2018-2019/top-14-beka-gigashvili-toulon-avant-mes-20-ans-je-n-avais-jamais-regarde-un-match-de-rugby_sto7543449/story.shtml |website=Midi Olympique |access-date=3 August 2023}} He made a strong impression in his first season, bringing stability to the Toulon scrum and winning praise as a powerful carrier, including for his first try for les rouges et noir in a 41-19 win over Clermont.{{cite web |title=Élisez votre XV de la saison de Top 14 : le pilier droit |url=https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/top-14/2019-2020/sondage-elisez-votre-xv-de-la-saison-de-top-14-le-pilier-droit_sto7760315/story.shtml |website=Midi Olympique |access-date=4 August 2023 |archive-date=4 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804164648/https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/top-14/2019-2020/sondage-elisez-votre-xv-de-la-saison-de-top-14-le-pilier-droit_sto7760315/story.shtml |url-status=live }} Gigashvili suffered a hamstring injury representing Georgia against Fiji in the Autumn Nations Cup, having started in all their previous games in the competition against England, Wales and Ireland.{{cite web |title=Beka GIGASHVILI: profile and stats |url=https://all.rugby/player/beka-gigashvili |website=All.Rugby |access-date=4 August 2023 |archive-date=4 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804164647/https://all.rugby/player/beka-gigashvili |url-status=live }} In February 2021, he renewed his contract with RCT until 2024.{{cite web |title=Gigashvili prolonge au RC Toulon |url=https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/top-14-gigashvili-prolonge-au-rc-toulon_sto8113954/story.shtml |website=Midi Olympique |access-date=4 August 2023 |archive-date=4 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804164649/https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/top-14-gigashvili-prolonge-au-rc-toulon_sto8113954/story.shtml |url-status=live }} At the end of the 2021/22 season, he represented the Barbarians for the first time, starting in a 52-21 win over England at Twickenham Stadium and did the same as Georgia defeated Italy 28-19 in Batumi, his nation's first win over a Six Nations side.{{cite web |last1=Cantillon |first1=Michael |title=England 21-52 Barbarians: Invitational side batter Eddie Jones' team despite Will Skelton red card |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/england-vs-barbarians/101934 |website=Sky Sports |access-date=4 August 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Mockford |first1=Sarah |title=Georgia beat Italy in Batumi |url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/news/georgia-beat-italy-in-batumi-143980 |website=Rugby World |access-date=4 August 2023 |archive-date=29 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929034637/https://www.rugbyworld.com/news/georgia-beat-italy-in-batumi-143980 |url-status=live }}
Gigashvili began the 2022-23 Top 14 season in good try scoring form, crossing the line in victories against Clermont, Pau and Stade Français.{{cite web |last1=Duzan |first1=Marc |title=Top 14 - Toulon s’est fait (très) peur face à Clermont ! |url=https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2022/09/19/top-14-toulon-sest-fait-tres-peur-face-a-clermont-10552355.php |website=Midi Olympique |access-date=4 August 2023 |archive-date=4 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804164648/https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2022/09/19/top-14-toulon-sest-fait-tres-peur-face-a-clermont-10552355.php |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Ordas |first1=Pablo |title=Toulon fait tomber Pau au Hameau |url=https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/top-14/2022-2023/top-14-toulon-fait-tomber-pau-au-hameau_sto9167578/story.shtml |website=Midi Olympique |access-date=4 August 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Veyre |first1=Julien |title=Des Toulonnais pragmatiques étouffent le Stade français |url=https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/top-14/2022-2023/top-14-des-toulonnais-pragmatiques-etouffent-le-stade-francais_sto9245723/story.shtml |website=Midi Olympique |access-date=4 August 2023}} He was rated as the regular season's best tighthead prop by Midi Olympique, describing him as a 'nightmare' for opponents in the scrum.{{cite web |last1=Augot |first1=Nicolas |title=Top 14 - Camille Lopez inoxydable, Facundo Isa invulnérable : le classement des étoiles du Midi Olympique |url=https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2023/03/21/top-14-camille-lopez-inoxydable-facundo-isa-invulnerable-le-classement-des-etoiles-du-midi-olympique-11073787.php |website=Midi Olympique |access-date=4 August 2023 |archive-date=4 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804164649/https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2023/03/21/top-14-camille-lopez-inoxydable-facundo-isa-invulnerable-le-classement-des-etoiles-du-midi-olympique-11073787.php |url-status=live }} Gigashvili scored a try and was man-of-the-match as Toulon defeated Benetton Rugby 23-0 to reach the final of the 2022-23 EPCR Challenge Cup, before starting in the final as part of a 43-19 win over Glasgow Warriors at the Aviva Stadium.{{cite web |last1=Franco |first1=Vincent |title=Challenge Cup - Parisse en maestro, Gigashvili en destructeur : le baromètre de Toulon-Trévise |url=https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2023/04/30/challenge-cup-parisse-en-maestro-gigashvili-en-destructeur-le-barometre-de-toulon-trevise-11167806.php |website=Midi Olympique |access-date=4 August 2023}}{{cite web |last1=English |first1=Tom |title=Glasgow Warriors 19-43 Toulon: French side power to EPCR Challenge Cup |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65652554 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=4 August 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{RC Toulonnais squad}}
{{Barbarians Summer tour 2022 squad|state=collapsed}}
{{Georgia Squad 2023 Rugby World Cup}}
{{Georgia Squad 2019 Rugby World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gigashvili, Beka}}
Category:Rugby union players from Georgia (country)
Category:Georgia international rugby union players
Category:Rugby union players from Tbilisi
Category:Expatriate rugby union players from Georgia (country) in France
Category:2019 Rugby World Cup players
Category:2023 Rugby World Cup players