Rugby World Cup: Nagoya mayor "can't help falling in love with Georgia" in song ahead of tournament kick-off [VIDEO]
Nagoya mayor Takashi Kawamura wears a Georgian national hat while receiving a symbolic present from team centre Merab Sharikadze at the welcoming ceremony for the Georgian team. Photo: Georgian Rugby.
Tweet 
Share
The mayor of the city of Nagoya declared his love for the Georgian national team at an official Rugby World Cup welcoming event, as the Lelos step up their preparations for the competition set to kick off on Friday.
Takashi Kawamura, the city's principal official, was speaking at the formal ceremony when he admitted to being enamoured with head coach Milton Haig's squad that had arrived in his city for the tournament.
In a demonstration of his affection the mayor borrowed the line "Wise men say only fools rush in / But I can't help falling in love with you" from a popular song by Elvis Presley, substituting the last word for "the team of Georgia".
"I can't help falling in love...with the team of Georgia!". The Mayor of Nagoya with one of the great welcome speeches ever ???????????? #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/EewYpTSZZm
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 19, 2019
The mayor also told the Georgian players to "enjoy Nagoya", with his vocal rendition of the line from the song receiving an applause from the team.
The mutual appreciation came at the event where the Lelos received their symbolic caps signifying participation in the World Cup. They also signed autographs for their Japanese fans in the ceremony that followed the team's training on Wednesday.
At the welcoming event team centre Merab Sharikadze thanked the local public and officials and outlined the team's perspective on their tournament goals in an interview.
Sharikadze, who has 63 apparances for the national team, is doubtful for the opening game against Wales on Monday after picking up an injury against Southern Kings in Georgia's capital Tbilisi last month.
Players of the Georgian squad signed autographs for their welcoming fans in Nagoya. Photo: Georgian Rugby.
In positive news for the Lelos, their legendary captain Mamuka Gorgodze is with the squad after breaking his international retirement to rejoin the team and alleviate their injury problems for the World Cup.
For the Georgian team, the match against Wales will be followed by fixtures against Uruguay and Fiji on September 29 and October 3 respectively. They will face Australia on October 11 in their concluding game of the pool stage.
Full fixtures of the Rugby World Cup can be viewed on the tournament's official website.
The Georgian national rugby team is celebrating its 30th anniversary. It was on September 12, 1989 when Georgia handed a defeat to Zimbabwe 16 to 3 in its first ever test-match in Kutaisi, the western Georgian region of Imereti.
Georgia’s national rugby team were honoured with a formal send-off to the upcoming Rugby World Cup in Japan, with the Lelos departing for Edinburgh to play Scotland on Friday before travelling to the Land of the Rising Sun for the tournament.
The Georgian national rugby team has defeated Southern Kings in Tbilisi today ahead of the Rugby World Cup that will be held from September 20 to November 2 in Japan. The Georgian Lelo’s handed a defeat to Southern Kings 24 to 20 at Mikheil Meskhi stadium.
The Georgian national rugby team defeated Uruguay at the Rugby World Cup in the Japan today. The Georgian Lelo's handed a defeat to Les Teros 33 to 7 in the Japanese town of Kumagaya.
Fiji has defeated Georgia 45:10 at the Rugby World Cup competition held in Japan earlier today. Fiji won the first half of the game by 7:3. However, in the second half they managed to score six tries.
The Georgian national rugby team will face off against Scotland at 8 p.m. at Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi tonight, ahead of the Rugby World Cup, scheduled to be held from September 20 to November 2 in Japan.
Georgian rugby players pay tribute to Milton Haig, the former head coach of the national team, in a new video released by the Georgian Rugby ruling body and national team sponsors TBC Bank.
“Georgia are being lined up to replace Japan as one of Scotland's opponents in an eight-team tournament this autumn”, BBC Schotland’s Tom English reported. The tournament is scheduled to be held on four consecutive weekends between November 14 and December 5.