Davit Zirakashvili, a consultant involved in Clermont, will leave the Auvergne club before the end of the season to “devote himself fully to (his) business”, confided the former pillar to the regional daily La Montagne.
“My departure is not exceptional. I simply had too much work beside rugby. Here, I made the decision to stop my mission with the club to devote myself fully to my business, “explained the 39-year-old Georgian (53 caps).
Zirakashvili, who played at ASM between 2004 and 2020, returned to Clermont in 2021 and intervened several times a week with the yellow forwards.
He was due to leave the club at the end of the season.
“It became complicated to invest myself as I wanted in my mission with the club. At times I was at my job thinking about rugby and at other times I was on the pitch with my players and my mind was on my business. Inevitably, you say where I am? What should I think about? Am I really helpful? I didn’t want to do anything wrong and no longer being able to get fully involved in rugby led me to make this decision.
‘Dato’ is set to be replaced in his role by current ASM head coach Christophe Urios, a former hooker.
Clermont, current 10th in the Top 14 nine points from Lyon, sixth and virtual last qualified, has four days to achieve a feat and snatch his place in the final phase.