Exeter, United Kingdom: Georgia are keen to build on their burgeoning promise as one of rugby union’s most improved countries by playing more tier one nations to develop and maintain high standards, insists coach Milton Haig.
The “Lelos” notched up a narrow 17-16 victory over Namibia on Wednesday to all but secure third place in Pool C, guaranteeing automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup in Japan. Their berth will be confirmed should New Zealand beat Tonga on Friday.
It was a milestone day for a country that continues to produce a steady stream of top-notch players, particularly amongst the forwards, many of whom ply their trade at top French clubs.
Coach Haig, a likeable New Zealander who took over Georgia in 2011, is adamant that his team need to play higher-calibre teams than they do on a regular basis in the European Nations Cup, the European championship for tier two and three nations sometimes dubbed the Six Nations ‘B’ tournament.
Finishing in the automatic qualifier spot, Haig said, “allows us to be a bit more comfortable... and certainly look at different ways of trying to get as much competition as possible at a high level”.
“Obviously that means playing against tier one nations as often as we can,” he said, his team having won seven of the last eight Nations Cup tournaments dating back to 2007.
“Whether that’s us touring there or whether that’s getting teams over to Tbilisi, I’m not sure, but certainly if we don’t take this opportunity with both hands, we’re mugs really.”
Since the 2011 World Cup, Georgia’s sole tier one competition has been against Argentina in 2013 and Ireland a year later. They have also played Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga in that time.
Haig added that the coming four years would entail “a lot of hard work firstly, and an enormous amount of planning”.
“Obviously we need to look at our player development plan going forward for the next four years. We think we’re in a pretty good place now with our player development with our under-18s and 20s being successful this year.”
There is certainly a solid base, with the sevens team an ever-present on the world circuit and the under-18s last season finishing runners-up in the European championships behind winners France, but ahead of established nations such as England, Italy, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
The under-20 side won the world trophy in Lisbon to qualify for the 2016 world championships, the 2017 edition of which will be hosted by Georgia in a major coup for the east European country.
“This tournament is a perfect way to further promote rugby in our country and we’re delighted to be chosen to host this event,” said Georgian rugby union president George Nijaradze.
“This is an acknowledgement of the level which Georgian rugby has reached and shows what has been done to develop rugby here.”
