Scots to make rugby history in Georgia
Scotland will make history next year when they become the first Tier One nation to play a Test match in Georgia.
Gregor Townsend’s team will take on the Georgians and France both home and away in warm-up matches for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
The Scots will travel to France on 17 August before journeying on to Tbilisi seven days later to face the Georgians, who are currently ranked 12th in the world.
Les Bleus will then make the return trip to BT Murrayfield on 31 August, with the Lelos arriving on the weekend of 6/7 September to play in Edinburgh.
Townsend will use the four-match series to whittle down his selection for the World Cup, with a 31-man squad then heading to Nagasaki for a training camp before the action gets underway.
The Scots kick-off their tournament against Ireland in Yokohama on 22 September, with clashes against the hosts Japan, Romania and the winner of a cross-region play-off to follow.
Townsend, said: “With 18 months to go until Rugby World Cup 2019, our planning for the tournament is well underway.
“These warm-up matches against quality international opposition will give us the chance to assess fully
where we are as a squad, as well as give players the opportunity to put their hands up for selection for Japan.
“Scotland’s matches against France are typically closelycontested, physical encounters. They are an excellent team who will test us in defence and attack.
“Georgia are currently placed 12th in the World Rugby Rankings and are a country on the rise. Playing against them will be a good test for us ahead of our pool matches at the Rugby World Cup.”
Milton Haig, the Georgia head coach, said: “The scheduling of these two matches to help us prepare for the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan is an historical moment for our team and our union.
“History will be made as it will be the first time Scotland will have played here in Georgia and the first ever Tier 1 Nation to play a match on Georgian home soil.
“This is testament to the relationship Georgia and Scotland have forged over the last few years and the national team are extremely humbled and privileged to play such an outstanding international team in front of our families, friends and very supportive rugby fans.”
Scotland last faced Georgia in 2016, with the home side winning 43-16 at Rugby Park in an autumn international, with Stuart Hogg scoring a brace of tries.
Their only other meeting in a Test match came at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand when the Scots squeezed home 15-6 in a pool match in Otago. Dan Parks kicked all Scotland’s points with four penalties and a drop goal in a dour struggle.