2017 Under 20 Rugby World Cup:
Georgia vows to host best tournament "in history"
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The Government of Georgia is pledged to host the best Under 20 Rugby World Cup "in history" next year when the best young rugby players from dozens of nations come to Tbilisi for the premier youth tournament.
Representatives from World Rugby the sport’s governing body, met top Georgian officials in Tbilisi yesterday and inspected the preparations for the 2017 Under 20 World Cup.
Training infrastructure and stadium equipment for the tournament were closely inspected by the rugby officials, led by World Rugby Competitions Manager Simon Kibble.
Also yesterday the group met Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Tariel Khechikashvili.
Georgia's Under 20 National Rugby Team celebrate their win at the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Trophy. Photo from the Georgian Rugby Union.
Kibble and his team received a promise from the Georgian Government that the event’s organisers would do everything they can to make the 2017 tournament the "best in history".
Next year Georgia will be the first country to host the Under 20 World Cup outside of the leading rugby nations. In the past the tournament was held in New Zealand, South Africa and France.
The competition is recognised as the world's second most important international rugby tournament after the senior Rugby World Cup.
The World Rugby Council made the decision to grant Georgia the right to host the tournament after voting unanimously in 2015.
The 2017 competition will mark the 10th annual World Cup, and participated by 12 rugby nations. The games will be held in capital Tbilisi and in Kutaisi in central Georgia in June 2017.
Georgia unveiled a new rugby training complexin Tbilisi in September 2015. Three more bases are expected to open before the 2017 tournament.
This year's Under 20 Rugby World Cup be held in England where Georgia's National Rugby Team will take part for the first time.
The country's U20 team were crowned champions of the second-tier 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Trophy in May last year.
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.
Georgia has been crowned world champions after the nation' junior rugby team won the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Trophy for the first time in Georgia's rugby history.
Georgia has gained the right to host one of the most prestigious worldwide rugby events in 2017.