Georgia national rugby league team
Encyclopedia
The Georgia national rugby league team represented Georgia
in rugby league football. It played its first international game in 2005. The Georgian team play in a red jersey with a white cross on the front. Before a match, they performed their own "haka
", called the Perkhuli (meaning "footwork").
began in 1991 when a Georgian player was recruited by a Russia
n rugby league club. In 1993 a rural Georgian rugby union
club team defected to the Russian Rugby League; the club and all of its players were banned from playing rugby union for life.
In 2004 Paata Tsintsadze established rugby league in Georgia, with the backing of the Rugby League European Federation
. In June 2004 the Georgia Rugby League (GRL) was incorporated, and recognised by the State Sports Ministry. Nodar Andghuladze was the first Chief Executive Officer and David Kilassonia the coaching manager. Soon after rugby union clubs Locomotivi (Railways RC) and Hooligana RC joined the GRL, alongside a third club, the newly founded Raindebi (Knights).
Georgia played its first international match on April 29, 2005 against Netherlands
in Rotterdam
. Most of the Georgian team were primarily rugby union players, several playing their first organised match of rugby league. The first international match on Georgian soil took place on July 24, 2005 at Dynamo Stadium, Tbilisi
. In that match Georgia defeated Serbia
44-12 in front of 8000 spectators.
After winning a position to compete in the 2005 European Nations Cup, Georgia performed admirably against Russia
, going down 48 to 14. After the defeat, Georgia took on six-time European Champions France
, going down 60 to nil, in a rain soaked Vake Stadium in Georgia.
In 2006 Georgia won Europe Round One, defeating the Netherlands
and Serbia
in the process and qualifying to participate in Europe Pool One with Scotland and Wales. The winner of the pool qualified for the 2008 World Cup
with the runner up entering the Repecharge round.
Their fixture against Russia was abandoned after the Georgian team had their visa applications rejected. However, a subsequent investigation discovered that the Georgian team had forfeited their match because their players were actually representing the rugby union team. Georgia were found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute, ejected from the competition and banned from RLIF events for two years. Russia were awarded the fixture 24-0.
Rugby league has not been played in Georgia since, and no plans are in place to resume competition.
See Russia
for games played by "Soviet Union" and "C.I.S." in early 1990s
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
in rugby league football. It played its first international game in 2005. The Georgian team play in a red jersey with a white cross on the front. Before a match, they performed their own "haka
Haka of the All Blacks
The Haka is a traditional Maori war dance from New Zealand. There are thousands of Haka that are performed by various tribes and cultural groups throughout New Zealand. The best known Haka of them all is called "Ka Mate". It has been performed by countless New Zealand teams both locally and...
", called the Perkhuli (meaning "footwork").
History
The history of rugby league in GeorgiaRugby league in Georgia
Rugby league is a team sport, originating in England, formerly played in Georgia.-History:The history of rugby league in Georgia began in 1991 when a Georgian player was recruited by a Russian rugby league club. In 1993 a rural Georgian rugby union club team defected to the Russian Rugby League...
began in 1991 when a Georgian player was recruited by a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n rugby league club. In 1993 a rural Georgian rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club team defected to the Russian Rugby League; the club and all of its players were banned from playing rugby union for life.
In 2004 Paata Tsintsadze established rugby league in Georgia, with the backing of the Rugby League European Federation
Rugby League European Federation
The Rugby League European Federation is the umbrella body for nations playing the sport of rugby league football across Europe and the Northern Hemisphere. It supports the Rugby League International Federation . The RLEF "oversees and co-ordinates the development of the sport in all its member...
. In June 2004 the Georgia Rugby League (GRL) was incorporated, and recognised by the State Sports Ministry. Nodar Andghuladze was the first Chief Executive Officer and David Kilassonia the coaching manager. Soon after rugby union clubs Locomotivi (Railways RC) and Hooligana RC joined the GRL, alongside a third club, the newly founded Raindebi (Knights).
Georgia played its first international match on April 29, 2005 against Netherlands
Netherlands national rugby league team
The Netherlands Rugby league was formed in January 2003. The national team played its first international match in 2005.-2008 World Cup Qualifying:See Also 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying...
in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. Most of the Georgian team were primarily rugby union players, several playing their first organised match of rugby league. The first international match on Georgian soil took place on July 24, 2005 at Dynamo Stadium, Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
. In that match Georgia defeated Serbia
Serbia national rugby league team
The Serbia national rugby league team represents Serbia in the sport of rugby league football, has been participating in international competition since 2003.-History:...
44-12 in front of 8000 spectators.
After winning a position to compete in the 2005 European Nations Cup, Georgia performed admirably against Russia
Russia national rugby league team
-2008 World Cup Qualifying:In 2006 Russia were involved in Europe Round One, defeating Netherlands national rugby league team and Serbia national rugby league team to finish second and keep their World Cup dream alive. They then went through to Europe Round Two in Europe Pool Two with Ireland and...
, going down 48 to 14. After the defeat, Georgia took on six-time European Champions France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
, going down 60 to nil, in a rain soaked Vake Stadium in Georgia.
2008 World Cup Qualifying
See also 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying
There were ten places available in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, held in Australia.-Qualified teams:Pacific6 teams qualified for the World Cup. 3 qualified automatically, with the top 2 in the Pacific qualifying group also reaching the finals. Samoa finished third in the Pacific qualifying group...
In 2006 Georgia won Europe Round One, defeating the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
in the process and qualifying to participate in Europe Pool One with Scotland and Wales. The winner of the pool qualified for the 2008 World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
with the runner up entering the Repecharge round.
Their fixture against Russia was abandoned after the Georgian team had their visa applications rejected. However, a subsequent investigation discovered that the Georgian team had forfeited their match because their players were actually representing the rugby union team. Georgia were found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute, ejected from the competition and banned from RLIF events for two years. Russia were awarded the fixture 24-0.
Rugby league has not been played in Georgia since, and no plans are in place to resume competition.
Results
| Match Results | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Home | Score | Away | |||
| 29-Apr-2005 | 34 - 14 | |||||
| 24-Jul-2005 | 44 - 12 | |||||
| 23-Oct-2005 | 48 - 14 | |||||
| 30-Oct-2005 | 60 - 0 | |||||
| 4-Feb-2006 | 19 - 46 | |||||
| 13-May-2006 | 45 - 10 | |||||
| 26-May-2006 | 57 - 16 | |||||
See Russia
Russia national rugby league team
-2008 World Cup Qualifying:In 2006 Russia were involved in Europe Round One, defeating Netherlands national rugby league team and Serbia national rugby league team to finish second and keep their World Cup dream alive. They then went through to Europe Round Two in Europe Pool Two with Ireland and...
for games played by "Soviet Union" and "C.I.S." in early 1990s
See also
- Rugby league in GeorgiaRugby league in GeorgiaRugby league is a team sport, originating in England, formerly played in Georgia.-History:The history of rugby league in Georgia began in 1991 when a Georgian player was recruited by a Russian rugby league club. In 1993 a rural Georgian rugby union club team defected to the Russian Rugby League...