Georgia’s national rugby team records “historic” win over Italy

Georgia’s national rugby team defeated Italy in a test game in the Black Sea city of Batumi on Sunday, recording a “historic” win over a Tier 1 squad.

The Lelos defeated their counterparts - who compete in Six Nations, the competition featuring Europe’s leading national teams - in a summer test hosted at the city’s Adjarabet Arena.

Photo: Georgian Rugby/Facebook.

The close game saw the team coached by Levan Maisashvili claim the victory with the final score 28:19, following two tries by Tedo Abzhandadze and one from Aleksandre Todua. Abzhandadze also contributed a conversion to the score, with Gela Aprasidze adding another kick for the final result.

Marking their first-ever win against a Tier 1 side - a category used to describe a group of the sport’s leading national squads - the Georgian team have also claimed their first defeat of Italy in five encounters. The previous four games between the sides had been held in Italy and saw wins for the hosts.

The win marks a symbolic significance for the Georgian team, as it follows longtime calls for Six Nations organisers to open their doors and allow the Lelos to compete in the league, where participants - including Italy - are guaranteed their spots with the absence of a qualification system.

The Georgian team is set to hold their next test game against Portugal on Saturday, with the fixture set to be hosted at Aia Arena in the western Georgian city of Kutaisi.