Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Georgia rugby under a cloud following a shooting at its Tbilisi offices

By Online Editors
(Photo by Francois Nel/World Rugby via Getty Images)

Great excitement has surrounded rugby in Georgia since it was announced last week that they will take part in the new Autumn Nations Cup in November, but a shooting on Wednesday has now cast a cloud over the sport in the Eastern European country.

ADVERTISEMENT

The arrival of Georgia into a one-off Nations Cup with the Six Nations and Fiji was warmly received after the Rugby European champions were invited to fill the gap left by the decision of Japan not to take up their invite. 

Georgia’s inclusion will see them face England at Twickenham, Wales at a venue to be decided and Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in November before a final game on the first weekend of December against a team from the pool featuring Italy, Scotland, France and Fiji.       

Video Spacer

The Rugby Pod reacts to the Owen Farrell red card which has ruled him out of Saracens’ European trip to Leinster on Saturday

Video Spacer

The Rugby Pod reacts to the Owen Farrell red card which has ruled him out of Saracens’ European trip to Leinster on Saturday

That exposure will give the game in Tbilisi and beyond a massive boost. However, the sport has made the wrong type of midweek headlines in Georgia following reports of a shooting at the offices of the Georgian Rugby Union. 

According to media reports, Georgian police arrested the vice president of the country’s rugby union, Merab Beselia, over the shooting of Ramaz Kharazishvili, the 32-year-old former captain of the Georgian national 7s team.

Kharazishvili was apparently shot in the leg in Tbilisi on Wednesday and had to undergo surgery, although his life wasn’t in danger. 

Reports added that the shooting arose from a dispute between the two men and police have now launched an investigation focused on the alleged illegal purchase, possession and carrying of a firearm and damage to health.

ADVERTISEMENT

Rugby is one of the most popular sports in Georgia, but Kharazishvili has also been a vocal critic of the Georgian Rugby Union in recent times. 

It’s reported that last month, Kharazishvili’s Jankers club was among 32 Georgian clubs to accuse interim president Giorgi Gorgaslidze of damaging efforts to set up a task force to help rugby in the country cope with the coronavirus pandemic.  

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE Juan Ignacio Brex: 'Italy made history, but it's not enough' Juan Ignacio Brex: 'Italy made history, but it's not enough'
Search