Our missing Georgians - what Lee had to say

[Rossm]

Bobby Bridge reports:

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/wasps-rugby-georgia-squad-news-19953527

[Neils]

ZZ has to be off. Maybe can't find a club.

[Horusthewasp]

ZZ has to be off. Maybe can't find a club.

ZZ’s situation is strange. His contract was up in Summer 2020 yet he is still with us today even though (bizarrely) no contract extension was ever announced.

Comments on Jaiani are somewhat unexpected. Despite being a 22 year old international he seems to be more of an Academy level player ... with potential.

[hookender]

Telling that article didn’t mention any reason at all for ZZ not featuring in our MatchDay squad - not even a throwaway line about level of fitness.

[Horusthewasp]

Telling that article didn’t mention any reason at all for ZZ not featuring in our MatchDay squad - not even a throwaway line about level of fitness.

You can’t help but feel for the guy but as the article states he does come below West, Harris & (an injury-free) McIntyre in the pecking order. It’s difficult to disagree with that based on performance.

In 18/19 he was a regular in the match day squad (mostly starting XV) but got markedly fewer games in 19/20 and just a 10 minute stint against Dragons this season so far. I suppose that steady decline is more to do with the stiff competition at loose head rather than poor performance or fitness issues otherwise he would of been dropped last summer when his contract ended.

[wasps]

If he's on the kind of money that was rumoured then he's done ok out of the deal and can't have too many complaints

[westwaleswasp]

He made a positive impression with fans, but clearly not the gaffer.
It is a bit like Rob Miller, not seen in the match day squad but nobody is quite sure why, because for me on the pitch ZZ did not look out of place.

[JonnyD]

ZZ has to be off. Maybe can't find a club.

ZZ’s situation is strange. His contract was up in Summer 2020 yet he is still with us today even though (bizarrely) no contract extension was ever announced.

Comments on Jaiani are somewhat unexpected. Despite being a 22 year old international he seems to be more of an Academy level player ... with potential.

Do you know this about ZZ’s contract? Surely would have been announced otherwise. Someone on the FB group who claims to know him personally says he’s still in contract next year too.

With regards to Jailani he’s just like Flament. A work in progress - developing slightly later after uni like Rowlands did as well.
Yes he’s playing international rugby for Georgia but apart from that he’s only played BUCS uni rugby in the UK at Exeter and The Chiefs didn’t take a punt on him when he was there. Definitely no where near the first team yet and surprised if anyone thought otherwise.
Flament was tearing up trees in training and was good enough straight away to slip effortlessly into top flight rugby. Jailani will hopefully get there with a bit more rugby on offer next year

[Horusthewasp]

ZZ has to be off. Maybe can't find a club.

ZZ’s situation is strange. His contract was up in Summer 2020 yet he is still with us today even though (bizarrely) no contract extension was ever announced.

Do you know this about ZZ’s contract? Surely would have been announced otherwise. Someone on the FB group who claims to know him personally says he’s still in contract next year too.

JonnyD, it is was reported in several places back in early 2019 when he extended his first contract:

“Georgia forward Zurabi Zhvania has signed a new contract with Wasps that will keep him at the Premiership club until the summer of 2020.”

https://www.bbc.com/sport/amp/rugby-union/46868572

“Wasps have announced that Georgian loosehead prop Zurabi Zhvania has committed himself to the Premiership club for the 2019/20 campaign.”

https://www.planetrugby.com/georgian-prop-re-signs-with-wasps/


Since then there have been no announcements by the club regarding his contract which is unusual.


To add further confusion, the other week BB reported he was one of the players who “could” be out of contract this summer:
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/rugby-rumours-transfers-wasps-19858108


Bizarre situation...

[Steve from Cov]

BB reported ZZ secured a lucrative contract when Wasps were pretty desperate for loose head cover.

He is certainly talented so I wonder if his absence has anything to do with his conduct?

It seems strange that Lee appears reluctant to talk about him; explain why he is sidelined or offer public messages of encouragement?

[Shugs]

I'd be amazed if it's solely down to selection with ZZ. He'd definitely have been rotated in by now as I think Harris and McIntyre have played whilst not 100%. No idea what it is but something's amiss.