Georgians aiming to make European history

[bakakumon]

Tbilisi Caucasians are looking to make history by becoming the first Georgian club to compete in Europe's leading tournaments when they take on Femi-CZ Rugby Rovigo in the first leg of a qualifying play-off for EPCR's new-look European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Caucasians, whose squad members have been selected from clubs in the Georgian Premier Division, begin their quest at Stadio Mario Battaglini tomorrow hoping to take an advantage back home for the second leg of the play-off at Stadium Avchala on 27 September.

At the conclusion of the two legs which will be decided on aggregate scores, one of Tbilisi or Rovigo, who are in the play-offs after finishing runners-up in last season's Italian Championship, will book a spot in Pool 1 of the Challenge Cup alongside Cardiff Blues - tournament winners in 2010 - London Irish and Grenoble.

"This is a very important occasion for us," said Caucasians Head Coach, Levan Maisashvili. "To be in with a chance of qualifying for a major European club tournament is something special for Georgian club rugby and we are determined to get off to a good start against Rovigo."

Players who are likely to make an impact for the newcomers in the play-offs include out-half Lasha Khmaladze and speedster, Giorgi Shkinin.

To date, two Georgian players - Davit Kubriashvili who came off the bench for RC Toulon in the 2013 Heineken Cup final and Shvelidze Goderzi who was a replacement for ASM Clermont Auvergne in the 2007 Challenge Cup decider - have won European club medals.

Dimitri Yachvili, who is of Georgian lineage, scored 747 points in his 86 appearances in European tournaments for Biarritz Olympique, played in two losing Heineken Cup finals, and won a Challenge Cup medal in 2012 during a stellar career for the French club.

The other place in this season's Challenge Cup is being contested by Bucharest Wolves and last season's Italian champions, Cammi Rugby Calvisano, who meet in their first leg at Stadium Arcul de Triumf tomorrow.

Both clubs have had a strong presence in Europe with Bucharest aiming to make a 10th appearance in the Challenge Cup, while Calvisano will be seeking a fourth appearance. Whoever comes out on top will join Stade Francais Paris, Newport Gwent Dragons and Newcastle Falcons in Pool 3 of this season's tournament.


http://www.epcrugby.com/eng/news/28935.php

 

[Croket66]

Teams:

Rovigo
1. Guillermo Roan
2. Luke Mahoney (cap)
3. Gheorge Gajion
4. Matteo Maran
5. Jean-François Montauriol
6. Emiliano Caffini
7. Andrea De Marchi
8. Matteo Ferro
9. Marco Frati
10. Luciano Rodriguez
11. Steven Bortolussi
12. Francesco Menon
13. Denis Majstorovic
14. Billy Ngawani
15. Stefan Basson

replacements : Enrico Ceccato, Nicola Quaglio, Massiliano Ravalle, Giuseppe Boggiani, Guiglielmo Zanini,
Giorgio Bronzini, Davide Farolini, Peter Pavanello.

Tbilisi Caucasians
1. Bachana Gogishvili (Kochebi)
2. Badri Alkhazashvili (Lelo Saracens)
3. Davit Gurgenadze (Armia)
4. Beka Bitadze (Lokomotivi)
5. Mikheil Archuashvili (Kochebi)
6. Georgi Tkhilaishvili (Batumi)
7. Elguja Surguladze (Lelo Saracens)
8. Zviad Maisuradze (Lelo Saracens)
9. Georgi Kacharava (Lelo saracens) Cap.
10. Lasha Khmaladze (Lelo Saracens)
11. Georgi Shkinini (Lokomotivi)
12. Georgi Talakhadze (Lelo Saracens)
13. Sandro Todua (Lelo Saracens)
14. Beka Tiklauri (Lokomotivi)
15. Irakli Khiasashvili (Lelo Saracens)

Replacements: 16. Irakli Chomakhashvili (Armazi), 17. Sandro Koiava (Lelo Saracens), 18. Georgi Sanikidze (Lelo Saracens), 19. Georgi Mchedlishvili (Jiki), 20. Bachana Kolelishvili (Lelo Saracens),
21. Georgi Begadze (Kochebi), 22. Temur Sokhadze (Kochebi), 23. Tornike Tsertsvadze (Lelo Saracens).

 

[bakakumon]

Tbilisi Caucasians held their 1st public training session ahead to EPCR

 

[gaston le gaff]

Which ever club wins best of luck to them, we have many Georgian players in the TOP 14, some who are excellent and some good friends of mine, this is the only way fror Georgian teams to advance and get better is to play above themselves, this is a great opportunity for them and hope they seize it with both hands, and feet if they need to kick penalties!!!! Already the National team is doing excellent, last time i talked to Mamuka, he said he can't wait for the WC. We have Didier Bes their forwards coach at Montpellier so i get plenty of updates from him and hoping to see a couple of pool games with Georgia in next years WC.

 

[bakakumon]

25' : Rovigo 10-8 Tbilisi Caucasians

 

[Jaguares]

Lelo Saracens

:lol:

 

[bakakumon]

First half: Rovigo 15-8 Tbilisi Caucasians

 

[Croket66]

Lelo Saracens

:lol:

Yes, Lelo Tbilisi signed a partnership with Sarries.
There are 9 clubs in the Saracens Global Network, including Seattle, Moscow, Timisoara, Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur, Nairobi, Sao Paulo and Toa (Tonga)
http://saracensworld.com/

Rovigo won the first leg 22-18 (3 tries to 2)

 

[bakakumon]

 

[bakakumon]

Tbilisi Caucasians vs Rovigo Delta Promo Video

 

[Croket66]

Rovigo won the second leg in Tbilisi (21-24) and qualify for the Challenge Cup
Caucasians can have a lot of regrets, so many mistakes from them, especially 3 knock-ons just before the Rovigo's tryline (one of them in the pic)

They also lost 4 proper line-outs on the Rovigo's 5m line...

A shame, especially because Caucasians would have one of the biggest crowd of Challenge Cup, a lot of people were at the stadium today

Fly-half Lasha Khmaladze scored 2 tries for Caucasians