Everything you need to know about Georgia

Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia. The infamous Joseph Stalin was a Georgian,

and this is where Jason and his argonauts came to search for the golden

fleece.

After 70 years of Soviet rule, Mikhail Gorbachev granted the Georgians

independence on April 9, 1991.

The capital is Tbilisi, with 1.25 of the nation’s five million

inhabitants. Georgia has it’s own unique 33-letter alphabet.

The Georgians claim to have ‘discovered’ wine— and rugby, which is

derived from their own game, Lelo-Burti.

Georgia have won football’s European Cup — Dinamo Tbilisi won it in

1981.

Georgian rugby players used to represent the USSR and Georgian club Aia

Kutaissi won three Soviet titles in a row in the late 1980s.

Georgia were granted official IRB status in 1992. French coach Claude

Saurel revolutionised their game, sending 40 promising players to clubs in

France.

A crowd of 45 000 turned up at the Boris Paichadze Stadium in Tbilisi to

see the crucial qualifier against Russia which saw them qualify for their

first ever World Cup.

Financial problems nearly scuppered their first World Cup appearance

here. Spain and Korea were put on alert in case the failed to make it.

The Georgians had average crowds of 40 000 for their European Cup (or

Six Nations B) games against Romania, Holland and Russia last year. That’s

3 000 more than rugby-mad New Zealand averaged for their tri-Nations games

against Australia and South Africa.

The entire sports budget of Georgia is R1,380-million. The rugby side were

given approximately R251 860 of that. England spent R25,186 064 on their World Cup campaign.

The French Rugby Federation bought the training bibs for the World Cup.

The local university provided tackle bags and balls. The players have no

money for expences and rarely leave their hotel.

Georgia have been adopted by the suburb of Subiaco, around 750 people

have paid R95 for Georgian hats, membership certificates and tickets for the

‘Georgian end” on Sunday. Half of the money will go to a children’s charity

in Georgia.

They are currently ranked 17th in the world. In September they lost to a

controversial late try against Italy in Asti, going down 22-31.

They’re leaving inspirational skipper Ilia Zedginidze out of the game

against England on Saturday… but if fit, he’ll play against South Africa

in Sydney on October 24, a game the Georgians feel they can win.