Georgia's Under-20 rugby team defeat England in test before World Championship

Georgia’s Under-20 national rugby team on Thursday defeated England with a score 40-38 in a test match ahead of the U20 World Rugby Championship later this month in South Africa.

The young Lelos scored the result despite falling behind 14-0 in the opening of the match, after their English counterparts capitalised on a mistake by the hosts in the game played at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi.

The Georgian squad recovered from the start with tries by Davit Khuroshvili and Petre Khutsishvili to go level in the score, before Nika Lomidze scored another and ensured a half-time lead of 21:24 for his team.

An aggressive start to the second half led to Luka Kotorashvili giving his team a 28:24 lead, while Andro Dvali contributed with a double. The visiting team managed to score one try in the closing minutes for the final score.

Georgian Rugby Union President Ioseb Tkemaladze called the result a “very important victory” and a “beginning of a new path” for the squad.

Top marks from me to the coaching staff for such preparation of the U20 team - we saw both a very high level of physical and technical play, as well as a strong will and emotional fortitude, which are no less important for victory”, he said in comments on the game.

The Under-20 Championship is scheduled to run between June 24-July 14, with the Georgian team placed in the same group with the hosts as well as Argentina and Italy.

The team's first match is scheduled for June 24 against South Africa, with the second fixture set for June 29 against Argentina and the closing group game planned for July 4 against Italy.