Experienced hooker Shalva Mamukashvili became the first Georgian to sign for Leicester Tigers when he agreed a move to Welford Road during 2020.

His playing career began as a 17-year-old with RC Kochebi, where he gained his first international recognition, before moving to Armia Tbilisi.

In 2014, he joined Sale Sharks then had stints with Glasgow Warriors and in France with Montpellier, Toulon and Carcassonne before returning to Georgia in 2018 to join Locomotive. He also linking up with Enisei-STM ahead of the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

After a Test debut for Georgia in 2011, Shalva played at the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups and gained his first cap as a Tigers player in the autumn game against Scotland in October 2020.