Georgia to face rugby world champions South Africa in test match
The Lelos will face the Springboks for the second time in their history, with the maiden game played at the 2003 World Cup. Photos: Tamuna Kulumbegashvili/qz.com.
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Georgia's national rugby team will face Rugby World Cup champions South Africa next year in what has been dubbed a "historic" test match by Georgia Rugby Union.
Fresh following the 2019 World Cup in Japan, which the Springboks claimed with a win over England earlier this month, the Georgian governing body confirmed the match - only the second between the teams - would be held in July 2020 in South Africa.
The fixture will mark the first time the teams face one another outside the World Cup, with the only previous encounter coming during the 2003 championship in Australia, which the South African team won with a score 46:19. The Sydney fixture saw the emerging Georgian team score their first World Cup try.
The Lelos - currently without a head coach following the departure of Milton Haig at the end of his contract after the World Cup - previously faced a world champion team in 2015 when they faced New Zealand during that year's global tournament.
Talks for a test match between Georgia and South Africa were held during the World Cup in Japan, with GRU President Gocha Svanidze revealing involvement by the World Rugby governing body in the process.
Svanidze also said the Lelos' visit to South Africa could see them arrange additional matches with clubs in the country, elevating a one-match test event into a full tour for the Georgians.
Under-19 national teams of both countries will face one another next month in Georgia, in two fixtures within the U19 International Series. The junior teams will play on December 2 and 5.
The game between the senior teams is scheduled for July 18, 2020.