Rugby league in Georgia
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Rugby league is a popular team sport, originating in England, played in Georgia.
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[edit] 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. The club and all of its players were banned from playing rugby union in the future.
Despite these previous endeavours rugby league was effectively unknown in Georgia until late 2004 when a French based rugby enthusiast Paata Tsintsadze established the Georgian National Rugby League Federation (GNRLF). In June 2004 the GNRLF 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 GNRLF, alongside a third club, the newly founded Raindebi (Knights).
Tsintsadze presented to the European Federation his proposal and plans for the GNRLF after which it was agreed that the GNRLF be recognised as the governing body for the sport in Georgia. Furthermore, Georgia became active participants in the European Federation's meetings and activities from then on.
The GNRLF set about organising the inaugural GNRLF championship. Four Tbilisi-based clubs competed in the first club championship in mid 2005. Tsintsadze hoped that more clubs will emerge over the next year including regional teams in Kutaisi, Batumi, andGuria, which all have a strong tradition of rugby union.
Early in 2005, the GNRLF team set the ambitious goal of sending the national team, which had not yet been played a game, to the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
On 5 September 2005 the GNRLF were told that official observer status of the GNRLF will be withdrawn with immediate effect and given to the new Georgian Rugby 13 (GR13) organisation. Despite of RLEF's decision to recognize the newly founded GR13F instead of the former GNRLF as official observers of the code in Georgia, the latter showed reluctance in handing over the under 16 matters to the GR13. This ultimatly meant that Georgia where unable to attend the youth world championship.
[edit] Governing Body
The governing body for rugby league in Georgia is the Georgian Rugby League Federation. It was founded in 2004 by former France rugby union player, Paata Tsintsadze. The GRLF is responsible for the premier rugby league competition in Georgia, known by the same name. It already has four clubs based in Tbilisi involved and it is hoped regional teams in Kutaisi, Batumi, and Guria will join the competition in years to follow.
[edit] Popularity
Rugby league is still virtually unknown in Georgia but the National competition and international tournaments are starting to make their mark. Also, rugby union is the second most popular sport in Georgia, after football (soccer), and so it is reasonable to expect that rugby league would find an immediate audience. Tsintsadze, the founding Georgian rugby league federations member, hopes that the strong rugby regions, in particular Western Georgia, which has a long history of producing international rugby union players, has the talent to support a rugby league team in the national competition.
However it has been sighted that for rugby league to take off, there needs to be more coverage and more specifically television coverage. The federation has been granted free rights to broadcast Australian club rugby, and expects to receive the rights to Europe's most prestigious competition, the Super league, free also. Unfortunately it is the tradition in Georgia of having to pay television channels to broadcast programs. The federation which is very young just does not have the money to do that.
In helping to develop the sport, a visit was arranged to the capital city of Tbilisi by Keven Rudd, after Georgia made an approach to become members of the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF). During the visit Rudd met with several organisations interested in further establishing the game which included the National T.V. network, the fledging Georgian Rugby League organisation and the sports Minister, Mr Davit Namgalavri. The interest shown by these organisations and the willingness of the European Federation to support Georgian rugby league gives hope that Georgian rugby league will be successful.
[edit] The National Team
Main Article: Georgia national rugby league team
The Georgia national rugby league team represents Georgia in international rugby league tournaments. The national squad is for the time being made entirely from Georgian based players most likely from Georgian rugby league clubs.
[edit] References
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