US Georgia state rugby club invited to event of Georgian national culture

Georgia Barbarians, the rugby club of the American state, on Saturday joined the audience invited to an event introducing the national culture of Georgia at the Eagle Theater venue in the city of Sugar Hill in the state.

Hosted by the Georgian Center of the European Experience in its second annual cultural event Soul of Georgia, the event marked the formal cultural ties formed between the US state city of Atlanta and the Georgian capital of Tbilisi in 1987. 

It saw showcases of Georgian national dances and other aspects of the country’s culture to the audience that included Steve Mace, the President of Georgia Rugby Union and Pete Redmond, the Vice President and Director of Barbarians at the city’s Eagle Theater venue.

Photo via GRU

The GRU was very honoured to be invited, and to be able to speak at the event. As breathtaking as the performances were - which they very much were - nothing could compare to the kindness and warmth of the Georgian ex-pat community. Pete and Steve have both said what a very humbling experience it was”, the US state governing body for the sport said on social media.

The GRU officials were invited to the event as a recognition of their sporting ties with counterparts in the country of Georgia.

The governing bodies of the sport from the two countries have recently announced plans for a cultural exchange as part of an effort to form closer ties through their mutual appreciation for rugby.

In January, the GRU said it would lend its voice of support to the national team of Georgia at the upcoming Rugby World Cup in France, while Georgia Barbarians were also invited to visit the country of Georgia.