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Georgia will be without injured duo Zurab Zhvania and Giorgi Talakhadze for the Rugby World Cup as head coach Milton Haig revealed his 31-man squad for the tournament.

Prop Zhvania and centre Talakhadze both picked up injuries in the warm-up defeat by Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park last Friday. Zhvania suffered a dislocated elbow, while Talakhadze is understood to have torn his groin.

Toulon back-rower Mamuka Gorgodze will skipper the side, who face Tonga in their World Cup opener before taking on Argentina, New Zealand, and Namibia.

"We've been building a competitive squad to compete at the Rugby World Cup since 2012," Haig said. "The selection process has been on-going for some months and we have finally come down to the 31 players the will take part.

"The team is a mix of very experienced players and young exciting talent with two players, Merab Kvirikashvili and Giorgi Chkhaidze, participating in their fourth Rugby World Cup. "The squad was debated extensively by the selectors and due to the fact that we have built depth in positions over the last four years, some very good players missed the initial selection.

"However as every other coach has already said after naming their RWC squads, the players that missed out could become very important and could play a major role if there are injuries. "Our objective in the last two months was to select and train the best prepared Georgian rugby team to compete at a World Cup and we certainly think that's what we have achieved."

Georgia World Cup squad

Backs: Merab Kvirikashvili, Beka Tsiklauri, Giorgi Aptsiauri, Sandro Todua, Tamaz Mtchedlidze, Muraz Giorgadze, Giorgi Pruidze, Davit Kacharava, Merab Sharikadze, Lasha Malaghuradze, Lasha Khmaladze, Giorgi Begadze, Vazha Khutsishvili, Vasil Lobzhanidze

Forwards: Mikheil Nariashvili, Kakha Asieshvili, Simon Maisuradze, Shalva Mamukashvili, Jaba Bregvadze, Davit Zirakashvili, Davit Kubriashvili, Levan Chilachava, Giorgi Chkhaidze, Levan Datunashvili, Georgi Nemsadze, Kote Mikautadze, Mamuka Gorgodze, Shalva Sutiashvili, Viktor Kolelishvili, Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, Lasha Lomidze