Georgia, a roughly rugby ball-shaped country between the Black and Caspian Seas, is a beautiful, largely mountainous country and one of the emerging powers of the rugby world.

The Georgia Rugby Union was formed in late 1964, four years after the sport was first played by University students and teachers, but it was not until February 1992 that Georgia became the 52nd member of the International Rugby Board (IRB).

The Lelos, as the national team are known, played their first international against a touring Zimbabwe side in September 1989 and have gone from strength to strength since the arrival of Frenchman Claude Saurel in 1997.

Georgia, which has only 21 registered clubs, announced their arrival during the inaugural IRB World Sevens Series before becoming the country’s first national side to reach the finals of a major tournament in any sport  - the World Cup Sevens in 2001.

Georgia won the European Nations Cup in 2001 and this, together with their Rugby World Cup qualification, has resulted in an explosion in the sport’s popularity.

Most Famous Player
Georgia's most capped player if Levan Tsabadze, the current capital of the national team, a prop who played the Bordeaux-Bègles in France and now, at the age of 29, plays for Castres. He once wrestled for Georgia at the Olympic Games.

Fact File
Georgian Rugby Union
Founded: 5 September 1964
Number of clubs: 21
Number of adult male players: 420
Number of Under 19 male players: 1 700
Number of referees: 16
Number of coaches: 49
National Colours: jerseys: wine, grey, black (alternative: wine, grey, white)
Home grounds:
Boris Paichadze National Stadium in Tbilisi (capacity: 75 000)
Vake Stadium in Tbilisi (capacity 25 000)

Rugby World Cup 2003 Squad:

The official squad:
Forwards: Avtandil Kopaliani, Aleko Margvelashvili, Sosso Nikolaenko, David Dadunashvili, Akvsenti Guiorgadze, Goderdzi Shvelidze, Zurab Mtchedlishvili, Victor Didebulidze, Vano Nadiradze, Grigol Labadze, Gregoire Yachvili, George Chkhaidze, David Bolghasvili, George Tsiklauri, Irakli Gundishvili, Ilia Zedginidze (captain).

Backs: Bessik Khamashuridze, Malkhaz Urjukashvili, Irakli Machkhaneli, Badri Khekhelashvili, Archil Kavtarashvili, Tedo Zibzibadze, Irakli Guiorgadze, Vassil Katsadze (captain), Gocha Khonelidze, Pavle Jimsheladze, Otar Eloshvili, Irakli Abuseridze, Irakli Modebadze, Merab Kvirikashvili.

Management
Team manager: George Tchumburidze
Head coach: Claude Saurel
Backline coach: Patrique Fort
Forwards coach: Paata Narimanashvili
Fitness: Thierry Roudil
Team Doctor: Francois Olvec
Physiotherapist: Jean-Louis Solomon
Team Media Liaison Officer: Guivi Kublashvili
Financial Director: David Kldiasvili
Vice-President: Zaza Kassachvili
Advisor: Tornike Gueguidze

Copyright Georgian Rugby Union © 2003