Georgia plans to build new rugby empire

Emric I know about the Wairarapa who have adopted Georgia as it's second team, and have build up a fan club. http://www.facebook.com/#!/Projectgeorgia and they have a website too. And did you know that Sean Fitszpatrich is ambasador of GRU, he even came to Tbilisi a couple of times. So I hope you guys can scream Georgia to victory:D, I remeber the amazing support Georgia had in 2003 in Australia. Considering the fact that the Games are played 6 o'clock in the morning i'm sure all the cafe's will be full to watch the games live, we might even drink coffee instead of beer (hha just joking). But that's going to be some weeks whitout sleepling because in that periode Georgian basketball team will play European Championship in Lithuania so the games will be 6 o'clock in teh afthernoon. And more important in teh poulstage Georgia and Russia will meet eachtother!

Thanks Sandro. Very interesting. Best of luck in the RWC.

Sando. Thanks for that :) .. I've enjoyed watching the rise of Georgia over the years and I wish the side all the best in New Zealand this year. I know a few people who have picked them as their second team to support so they should get some good coverage and attention. I hope that there are some good tv ratings in Georgia which will help the sport grow. :) Thanks

Hello I'm from Georgia, and I liked this artical verry much. Rugby is winning popularity in Georgia every year, Rugby is still the second sport in Georgia afther football. But I think it is a matter of time till they will be equel. Rugby got popular because of the 15 year undefeated streak agianst Russia that is not only a rival for us but olso an enemy we even fought we brief war 3 years ago, and they still occupy 20% of international recognized Georgian land. So you can imagine that factor is giving Rugby a huge boost. Olso 3 times in a row qualifing for the RWC is a factor. And last but not least ''LELO'' means fieldball in Georgian and is played in the Guria reagion wich in near turkey, and hase many similarities whit rugby. The legend says that a big Turkish army invaded Georgia and the Gurians whitout any arms drow them away back to Turkey (then the ottoman empire) by simply pushing them back whit there bare hands, and that LELO is a memorial to that day. Georgians are really into phisical sports it is good to know that in the modern wresteling there are many factors of the old Georgian wresteling, and there are japanees comming to Georgia learn Georigan wresteling to use that skils in Judo. Olso the JWRT that was held in Georgia this june was good for the popularity of rugby. When we play Russia the national stadium wich hold's 55.000 spectators is fully crowded somethimes there are even people sitting on the stairs. But as for the other games they are played in the 2e stadium of Tbilisi that can hold 27.000 spectators, when Romania came in March we managed to crowed that stadium and there were 26.000 spectators. But the other games agianst Portugal, Ukraine etc, there are maximum of 10.000 spectators. In november test agianst Canada and USA there where 20.000-25.000 spectators. Well we hope at the world cup we can beat Romania and Scotland, and give Argentina a big run for there money. Let's see what happends. Cheers, Sandro

The 6Ns annually value is something along the line of 350 - 400,000,000 Euros. Unless we see an absolute explosion in viewership from within the next 6 in Europe in terms of audience and playing standard the chances of inclusion or radical upheaval of the current format is very, very unlikely. What I would like to see is the IRB look to greatly improve and expand Rugby's presence in the Top 6 or even 8 ENC nations, that means creating a closed house of Belgium, Russia, Georgia, Spain, Portugal, Romania, Germany, Ukraine and I'd go for the Netherlands and really investing in growing the game within those borders and getting it more commercial exposure on TV. Build its overal value commercially as a seperate championship. Having two major European Championships would be better than constantly expanding or altering the 6Ns ( I think its found the right balance). Would also like to see them fund some sort of semi-pro North America Championship (or at the very least assume the travel and venue costs) as well as elevating the Americas Rugby Championship to a fully recognised annual Rugby tournament involving a the USA, Canada, Uruguay, Chile and in time Brazil. On top of that, as what happened with the Las Pampas concept in the Vodacom Cup, I would like them to fund the entrance of a Kenyan squad (national team).

the 6NS should have a promotion relegation system say in 2016-17 season. Let the other divisions develop a bit more then have it it will be great and in 20 years Euro rugby if ZANZAR don't get there house in order will totally dominate rugby with the USA and Canada.

The 6Ns should expand any further. Instead we should be looking to raise the level of the next level teams to develop a continental 6Ns torunament as well as the capacity for them to play home and away fixtures against Tier 1 opposition in the November test windows.

AndyS They're very clever humourous ads. Brazil came third in the CONSUR A Rugby Championship recently but pushed Uruguay right up to the 70th minute where fitness told and put in a very good display against eventual winners Chile. Not so long ago both of these teams would have put 50 on the Brazilians. There Union is quickly reorganising and mobilising and are witnessing very strong growth. A great deal of potential in the nation, so much so that both Uruguay and Chile need to begin to watch their backs or otherwise become a alot more proactive in their activity to at the very least keep pace with an ever strengthening Brazil.

"Brazil is actualy coming on in leaps and bounds" - and doing so with a commendable sense of humour....see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKnQn-8PFII

sori, meant to say tradition

the six nations is as much to do with rugby as is tradion..if georgia gets in, it's in for life...unless the earth opens up and swallows thast country..

there are no georgian player in england. altho u might see some after rwc. i like this idea 4 istanbul. i am from romania and it would b a close game n great city. besiktas stadium is not so modern but in a very touristic area.

The French are introducing a quota system this year to reduce the number of foreign players in their two pro leagues. Ireland have a limit of 5 foreign players per province (4 provinces) Wales have a limit of 6 (i think). I'm not too sure about Italy or Scotland (two pro sides each) but it is policy in Italy to try to keep the best Italian players in their league. England is the only country with no plans to limit numbers of foreign players in their clubs in Europe. Although these limits are not outright bans on foreign players they must reduce the amount of foreigners imported and encourage the development of academies. There is also a salary cap in effect now in France which will again put some limit on the amount of foreign stars that a team can afford. Georgia is already leaking players to the English premiership. My biggest worry for eastern European countries is that their best players will be bought out of their newish professional leagues just as they start to flourish.

Their are 3 European Nations Cup division each with differing degree's on classification. The top division in ENC1A followed by 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 3C. All of these divisions are designed to provide competitive competition for all teams.

i WAS READIN THEN ABOUT euro nations, they have now established basically 3 divisions in europe. Division 1) The 6 nations as we know it eg ENGLAND FRANCE Div 2) DIV 3) And within DIV 2 AND DIV 3 there is a promotion and relegation system. Georgia won div 2 last year and had some hard fought wins VS Portugal, ROmania, and russia. got the source from wikipdia. Maybe in say 5 years time around say the start of 2016-17 rugby season it would be good if they had a relegation system with the top 6 nations tournament in europe, would eb good for Euro rugby development in general. To have gergia play england in meaningful 6 nations match at twickenham rather than 1 of internationals, and not just georgia but all of europe fighting for tope division in europe to be a part of. gEORGIA has improved a lot as has japan, and they will be much more comptivitve than say previous outings against the big coutnries like ENGland and NZ. We should also say in 5 years time look at having a southern hemphiespher/ASian cup with a promotion relegation system where bottom team of div 1 goes down, and tope team in div 2 goes up, but i bet the aru and they boys at ZANZAR would hate that, selfish toffees like john oneil' and mr tewww lol would not like there money spinners the AB'S and Wallabies in div 2 now would they. The euros are moving forwad without here rugby AUS,NZ, are moving backwards , in 20-30 years i fear AUST,and nz rugby teams will be still elite teams but like say West indies cricket is today, or fFIJI or scotland is in rugby. Still top teams in the big divisons but not the best of the best , if we keep with the super 15 and don't have promotion relegation or just a more meaningful southern hemphisere international tournament to rival the 6 nations, .

While countries such as Kazakstan are excluded from 'major' competitions such as 6 nations, they are playing the Asian 5 nations (top tier with Japan, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, South Korea). One of the reasons the teams at the World Cup have improved is due to IRB competitions such as the Churchill Cup, with Tonga, Canada, USA, Russia, Italy A, and the Saxons, and the Nations Cup with Romania, Georgia, Portugal, Namibia, SA Kings, and Argentina Jaguars. Then we have the under 20 teams world championships..so we do have some pathways, and opportunities for the so called minnows to gain experience which is hugely beneficial. Interesting to see John Muggleton is defence coach for Georgia..

Good to see Georgia doing their bit to spread the rugby gospel - begs the question what is Australia doing? The ARU seems more concerned with getting compensation from the IRB for reduced test matches.

My understanding is that the Georgia-Russia games are generally well attended and ...um... "robust". You could see that being a major driving force in getting a lot of teams involved in any regional competition.

The Eagles recently defeated Russia 34-25 in the Churchill Cup just gone.

This was last years Churchill cup. USA vs Russia, should be a good game during the Rugby World Cup http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpVrw3ZDppg