Leinster's Vakhtang Abdaladze set for move to France

Vakhtang Abdaladze has left Leinster with immediate effect, with the prop joining French side Brive on a two-year deal.

The 27-year-old still had a year left to run on his current contract with the province.

Abdaladze was a late recruit to the Leinster academy at the age of 22, having impressed for Clontarf in the All Ireland League, and played 27 games for the province since his debut in December 2017, including a Champions Cup appearance against Bath.

Having lived in Dublin since the age of five, the tighthead prop made his Test debut for his native Georgia in 2022, which has since made him a non-Irish qualified player.

As such, it was expected he would depart Leinster when his contract expired in 2024, but he has been granted early-release from his deal to join the French side.

Brive will play in the second tier ProD2 this season, having been relegated from the Top14.

Among Abdaladze's team-mates at Brive will be former Ireland internationals Sammy Arnold and Stuart Olding, as well as Daniel Brennan, son of former Ireland forward Trevor.