Now get Georgia in the Six Nations!
Sportsmail visits ‘Vegas of the Black Sea’ to see a huge moment of rugby history
By Day, the gentle waves of the Black Sea lap the Batumi coastline. at night, Georgia’s second biggest city comes alive. On Sunday evening, the place exploded.
Georgia’s 28-19 victory over italy was their first against a tier-one nation and sent a message to rugby’s administrators that Levan Maisashvili’s side belong at the highest level.
it was a moment of Georgian rugby history. The rhythmic beat of the dance music from Batumi’s beachside nightclubs was relentless all weekend as a rugby-mad population celebrated in style.
The tunes were still blaring at dawn yesterday. Fireworks lit up the night sky.
Batumi — nicknamed the ‘Las Vegas of the Black Sea’ — has been transformed in the last decade with its development and new high-rise buildings fuelled by gambling and tourism money.
it was a fitting place for Georgian rugby to take its next big step.
Like Batumi, head coach Maisashvili and his team have ambitious plans.
‘i never want to change this feeling,’ Maisashvili said. ‘i don’t think this result will change much in terms of if Georgia should maybe join the Six nations.
‘i absolutely don’t think they are going to open the door on the back of one result. Just give us more opportunities to play against tier-one countries and not just once a year. That would be my message to World rugby.’
Georgia and the Six nations. it is now the burning question and that discussion has gone to another level after an astonishing weekend in Batumi.
Many already believe there should be a promotion and relegation clash between the team which finishes bottom of the Six nations and the best side in the rugby Europe Championship — which is the tier below.
Such a scenario would, in most years, pair italy with Georgia — and when the two sides met on Sunday, Georgia more than proved their point and deserved to win.
Senior figures within Georgian rugby have expressed to Sportsmail that it may still be too soon for them to join the Six nations. This is still a developing rugby nation. But it is moving quickly.
Georgia’s win over italy was a tremendous rugby occasion. On the field, they mixed flair with power as their supporters backed them all the way. There can be no doubting the passion for rugby.
‘There was a huge unity on the pitch between all the players and the staff, but also with the crowd. The whole of Georgia was together for this win,’ said their captain Merab Sharikadze.
This was no italian reserve team and it must be remembered that they beat Wales in Cardiff in March. They were nonetheless well beaten by Georgia.
Backs Davit niniashvili and Tedo abzhandadze had games to remember and the home side’s pack was outstanding to a man.
Georgia do not necessarily want to replace italy in the Six nations. in time, they would like to join an expanded Championship that may well also include South africa in the years to come.
These are questions for the future. But Georgia’s time is now. Those in World rugby’s corridors of power must take heed from the italy result and realise their ability and potential.
How much better would Georgia get if they were given more matches against the best?
rugby is already the country’s national sport, but it continues to grow in popularity. Georgia’s home games regularly attract crowds of 50,000 in Tbilisi.
This was their first match in the party capital of Batumi and the passion and fervour of the event struck home. The decision to take games around the country has paid off.
The match was also live streamed online with more than 13,000 tuning in as Georgia sealed victory in the closing stages.
‘When i started my coaching career in Georgia, we had nothing. Just nothing,’ said Maisashvili, who was smiling from ear-to-ear at the final whistle.
This, of course, is a man who now knows how to enjoy life after spending one month in a coma last summer following his contraction of Covid-19.
Maisashvili was given a one per cent chance of survival, but he rose from his deathbed and is now breathing new life into his team.
He continued: ‘We played on a terrible pitch and had no facilities. now we have good facilities thanks to our rugby supporters. Our former Prime Minister, Bidzina ivanishvili, has spent huge money on the improvement of Georgian rugby. He still does. The government is still helping us.
‘They have the target to build 100 rugby pitches. it’s great for a small country like us. We are starting to engage with all areas of the country in rugby and step by step, we will have more players to choose from which will improve our quality. We still have a big opportunity to improve.’
ivanishvili, a billionaire businessman, philanthropist and politician, has invested more than £850,000 in Georgian rugby since 2010.
The current Prime Minister, irakli Garibashvili, was at the italy match. Expectations were high and the team delivered a hugely notable victory in front of him.
all in all, it is hard to get away from the feeling that the Six nations would benefit from Georgia being included in it.
Trips to Tbilisi or Batumi would surely be popular with travelling supporters and cheaper than Paris or rome once they arrive.
‘The decision on who should be in the Six nations is nothing to do with us,’ said beaten italy coach kieran Crowley. ‘Georgia deserved to win — they played better than us.
‘Congratulations to them. it’s great for the game. i said to the players in the changing room that Georgia celebrating was the same as us in Cardiff against Wales.
‘This result is great for the rugby community in Georgia. it was noisy and a magnificent rugby occasion. Just look at this press conference.
‘There must be ten cameras. it’s the biggest press conference i’ve had since i’ve been italy coach.
‘Wales got their first win in South africa on Saturday and it was the same with ireland in new Zealand. Maybe there was something in the water this weekend.’