CNN: “Why Georgia has rugby on its mind ahead this year's World Cup”

Georgia’s preparations for this year’s Rugby World Cup and experiences of the team’s new forwards coach in the country have become a subject of a CNN feature that introduces the Lelos to the broadcaster’s wide audience.

Ahead of the global tournament, where Georgia will face Australia, Wales, Fiji, and Uruguay in their pool, the channel’s George Ramsay dedicated an article to the unprecedented rise of the sport in the country over the last decade or so.

The CNN piece presents perspectives of the team’s head coach Milton Haig, who revealed he expected changes at the competition with regards to the way Georgia usually played.

[Previously] [r]eally our game was based around the forwards. I don't think that's going to be the same in Japan.”

One of the things now is we've developed a lot of young players. The team likes to play with a bit more width,” Haig told the channel.

CNN also spoke to the New Zealander about possibility of Georgia gaining the coveted access to the Six Nations tournament, if the elite European competition introduces promotion and relegation after 2021.

The head coach said his team, currently ranked 13th in the world, would be competitive in matches but also bring benefits to the tournament “off the pitch”.

The CNN story also has insights from Graham Rowntree, a former forward with four World Cup appearances with England and currently Georgia’s forwards coach.

I can't believe how much weight [the Georgian players] can lift. I've never seen anything like it.”

Some of the weights! Their DNA must be incredible. I honestly can't believe how strong they are across the squad,” the former player with 54 caps for England notes.

See the Georgian Rugby's video interview with Graham Rowntree, released last month.

Rowntree also has warm words about the country he has now resided in for the last four months that he has been appointed to the position, noting the “proud, hardworking” nature of Georgians and qualities of local cuisine and hospitality.

Read the full story here.