EXCLUSIVE: England and Georgia plot multiple initiatives together
England and Georgia plot multiple rugby initiatives together, with English coaches helping rivals’ national set-up and more players from eastern Europe going to Premiership as they aim to win two World Cup matches
- Georgia remain an ambitious rugby nation and beat Italy and Wales last year
- An emerging link with the RFU may create chances for their players in England
- It could also see English coaches working with the Rugby Europe champions
An emerging link between the RFU and Georgia could see aspiring English coaches working with the Lelos in the future and more players from Eastern Europe heading to the Gallagher Premiership.
Last year, ambitious Georgia claimed famous wins over both Italy and Wales. They are determined to challenge rugby’s global elite and have consulted English rugby bosses on how to do so.
In November, RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney met with Georgian representatives. The two countries discussed future coaching partnerships among a number of other initiatives.
Later this year, England’s Under-20 side is set to travel to the Georgian capital Tbilisi for two matches with the country’s development side.
‘We met England last year. It was fantastic,’ Georgia president Soso Tkemaladze told Sportsmail.
An emerging link between the RFU and Georgia could see aspiring English coaches working with the Lelos and more players from Eastern Europe heading to the Gallagher Premiership
Georgia have won Rugby Europe – the competition below the Six Nations – for six years in a row
‘We made a handshake on an agreement. Our Under-20’s don’t play in the Six Nations so for them to play England will be fantastic.
‘We are also working in many other directions and this is how the rugby family can rise together. I want to underline a big thanks to England and Bill.
‘Our partnership is very important for us. We are working in all directions and we will continue to discuss coaching. We want English clubs to look at Georgian boys and to open up that market.
‘Our players can bring a Georgian style of fight to England and from our side, they will be able to give back to our national team the learnings from the beautiful English rugby.
‘This has all started at a very important time for us.’
Former England forward Joe Worsley is a current member of Georgia’s coaching staff.
Earlier this month, Exeter signed Lelos international prop Nika Abuladze. In 2020 and during the pandemic, England hosted Georgia at Twickenham in the Autumn Nations Cup.
Games with tier-one opposition nonetheless remain all too infrequent for Georgia, who are targeting two wins at the World Cup in France later this year.
Georgia are set to be excluded from rugby’s plans for a new international world league structure, which will take place in the summer and autumn windows.
The new format is poised to include all Six Nations countries, the four Rugby Championship sides, as well as Japan and Fiji.
‘We will keep our position against this new tournament and we hope the best decision will be made in the interests of the whole of rugby,’ Tkemaladze added.
‘We have spoken to World Rugby several times. Georgia needs Test matches against tier-one countries. World Rugby is investing in Georgia.
‘If we are all one rugby family, then we have to try and raise the game up together. We have talked to World Rugby about the fact we don’t want to be closed off. We want strong games.
‘We proved last year we can compete by beating Italy and Wales. In the case of World Rugby’s new autumn and summer planning, we have discussed it with them.
‘We are happy to stay with the less powerful teams but would like to see a promotion and relegation match between the team that finishes last and the team which finishes top in the tier below. Our staff have been involved in the discussions. There have been open negotiations.’
Georgia claimed the Rugby Europe title – the competition below the Six Nations – for the sixth straight year with victory over Portugal in Spain earlier this month.
The Lelos were unhappy with how they were treated for that match but are now looking forward to the World Cup where they will look to take more big-name scalps.
Levan Maisashvili’s side will face Wales, Australia and Fiji in Pool C – as they did in 2019 – as well another meeting with Portugal.
Tkemaladze said: ‘Our target is to win two games. In 2019 we won one. We have more ambitious plans this time but we will see because our competitors are strong.
‘They will be great games for us to show what we have. You never know what will happen. That is why rugby gives us so many strong emotions.
They secured historic wins over Italy and Wales and want to win two games at the World Cup
Games with tier-one opposition like England nonetheless remain all too infrequent for Georgia
‘I was very sad when the chief executive of Rugby Europe hinted Georgia needed to lose some games. It was not a good statement.’
Earlier this year, Rugby Europe boss Florent Marty said: ‘When you have the same winner for all the editions except one in the last decade or so, it’s not necessarily benefiting the uncertainty around the competition.’
Tkemaladze added: ‘Rugby Europe needs to help all the teams. They did a lot of things at the recent final with Portugal which were not so good. It is very sad. We agreed to play in Spain but for the Portugal game, our team was without a changing room. They changed in a kitchen for a final. We need to work, all together.
‘The World Cup will be where we need to show we are ready to join the big teams. I think we will have some miracles at the World Cup. Let’s see. Maybe it is just in my dreams.’
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