First rugby fan shop opens in Tbilisi
The Lelos prepare for 2015 Rugby World Cup
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Rugby fans across Georgia are celebrating - the first fan shop supporting the Georgian national rugby team has opened its doors in Tbilisi.
Players, coaches, industry officials and hundreds of supporters gathered at the new Chavchavadze Ave shop yesterday to celebrate the official opening of the new shop.
The first customers were lucky enough to get autographs by members of the national team on their rugby balls, T-shirts and other souvenirs.
There are less than 50 days until the Rugby World Cup kicks off in England. The Georgian national side, commonly known as the Lelos, are fully immersed in their final round of preparations.
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The team's intensive preparations involved a three-week period in Georgia mostly based on strength and conditioning with some rugby skills as well.
Georgia's national rugby team get ready for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Photo by T. Kulumbegashvili.
This was followed by a week off, giving players the chance to spend time with their family and refresh their bodies and minds before the September-October international competition.
"They will have some things to do like go swimming, walk and bike riding but they will also be in a rugby environment,” said head coach Milton Haig, adding: "We want them completely refreshed.”
On August 5 the Lelos will travel to Poland, where coaching staff will continue fitness-oriented sessions using a special cryonics facility enabling players to bounce back into shape much faster.
By the end of the second stage of preparations the Lelos will return to Georgia for another week off before they head to the United Kingdom on August 24 for the last stage of World Cup preparations.
October 2, 2015 will be a big day in Georgia’s sporting calendar. On this day the side will face world champions New Zealand in the famous Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
During the World Cup pool matches Georgia will play Tonga on September 19, Argentina on September 25 and Namibia on October 7.
World champions New Zealand are going to go head to head with Georgia at the 2015 Rugby World Cup after the Lelos beat Romania in Tbilisi on Saturday and won the European Nations Cup.
Georgia's national rugby team are the 2014 European Nations Cup champions. The team defeated Romania 22-9 in Tbilisi today.
The Lelos defeated Spain 24-17 in Madrid on Saturday in the penultimate round of European Nations Cup 2014, which also served as a 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifier.
Georgia's national rugby team has defeated Russia in front of a home crowd, with a significant score of 36 points to 10 in the 2014 European National Cup tournament.
Georgia's national rugby team is embracing cryotherapy - an innovative new recovery therapy - in their preparations for the Rugby World Cup 2015.
A new, modern rugby training base boasting two stadium playing areas and other sporting facilities has been opened by the Prime Minster and some of the country’s best aspiring rugby players.