Exeter Chiefs sign Georgian prop Bachuki Tchumbadze ahead of 2025/26 season

Exeter Chiefs have confirmed the signing of 23-year-old Georgian international tighthead prop Bachuki Tchumbadze ahead of the 2025/26 Premiership Rugby season.

The move marks the young front-rower’s first club venture outside his native Georgia.

Born in Tbilisi in 2001, Tchumbadze has been a standout performer for Black Lion, Georgia’s leading domestic franchise.

He represented them in both the EPCR Challenge Cup and Rugby Europe Super Cup, making 14 appearances and earning his senior international debut earlier this year in a convincing 40–7 victory over the Netherlands in the Rugby Europe Championship.

Tchumbadze now follows in the footsteps of fellow Georgian prop Nika Abuladze, who featured for Exeter during the 2023/24 season. Known for his physicality in the scrum and strong carrying ability in open play, Tchumbadze has been identified as one of Georgia’s most promising front-row talents.

Speaking about the move, Tchumbadze said, “I’m really honoured to join the Exeter Chiefs. I’ve always admired English rugby, and I’m looking forward to making my debut and contributing to the team’s success.”

Chiefs Director of Rugby Rob Baxter described the signing as timely, especially with Marcus Street departing the club and Ehren Painter recovering from injury.

Tchumbadze will now compete with Jimmy Roots and Josh Iosefa-Scott for a place in the tighthead rotation. Baxter highlighted the prop’s raw power and agility, calling him “dynamic in the loose and effective in the tight.”