Ilia Zedginidze ( ka, ილია ზედგინიძე; born 20 January 1977) is a Georgian former rugby union player. He played as a

lock (rugby union) In the game of rugby union, there are 15 players on each team, comprising eight forwards (wearing jerseys numbered 1–8) and seven backs (numbered 9–15). In addition, there may be up to eight replacement players "on the bench", numbered 16– ...

, number 8, and

flanker (rugby union) Flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Each team of 15 players includes two flankers, who play in the Forwards (rugby union), forwards, and are generally classified as either List of rugby union terms#B, blindside or List of rugby un ...

and was a lineout specialist. A member of their inaugural World Cup side in 2003, he captained the Georgia national rugby union team in the 2007 tournament, but was forced out of the squad because of an injury. This injury ultimately led to his announcement of his retirement from international rugby, after gaining 48 caps. He returned to the squad in late 2008, playing against

Scotland A The Scotland A team are the second national rugby union team behind the Scottish national side. The first Scotland 'A' fixture took place in 1990. History Unlike association football, where the main team is supposed to be the "A" team, Scotla ...

and taking part in the

2009 European Nations Cup The 2009 European Cup, known as the rugbyleague.com European Cup due to sponsorship, was a rugby league football tournament. The revamped European Cup 2009 involved six teams competing in two groups of three. Participating teams were: Ireland, Sco ...

, where he scored a game-saving try against Portugal on 14 February 2009. He played for Rugby Rovigo in Italy and for FC Auch Gers in France, who played in and won the 2006-07 Rugby Pro D2 season. He now represents

Aix-en-Provence Aix-en-Provence (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Ais de Provença in classical norm, or in Mistralian norm, ; la, Aquae Sextiae), or simply Aix ( medieval Occitan: ''Aics''), is a city and commune in southern France, about north of Marseille. ...

References

1977 births Living people Rugby union players from Georgia (country) Expatriate rugby union players from Georgia (country) Expatriate rugby union players in France Expatriate sportspeople from Georgia (country) in France Georgia international rugby union players Rugby union locks FC Auch Gers players AS Béziers Hérault players RC Toulon players Rugby union players from Tbilisi Expatriate sportspeople from Georgia (country) in Italy Expatriate rugby union players in Italy RC Orléans players Rugby Rovigo Delta players 2007 Rugby World Cup players 2003 Rugby World Cup players 2011 Rugby World Cup players {{Georgia-rugbyunion-bio-stub