Today the Georgian Under 18 team defeated the Italy Under 18 team 20-18 at the European Under 18 Championships, a great result for Georgia and which shows a very promising future for the team, and also supports that they are as strong as Italy and deserving of a place in the 6 Nations.
A week ago, FIRA (who run things to do with the second tier European nations, and also this Under 18 tournament) director Gilles Bizot said that "Georgian rugby is not nearly as strong as Italian rugby" when asked whether they could join the Six Nations in the near future.
But that view has been made to look foolish by the Georgian Under 18 team, who with tries from Revaz Brodzeli and Giorgi Pruidze defeated the Italian Under 18 team. Of course youth games are not always reflective of the senior games as nations with most depth and player bases tend to do better than in senior rugby, but you don't get nations who are "not nearly as strong" in senior rugby beating nations in junior rugby.
This result supports that Georgia, who have dominated the European Nations Cup (6 Nations B) over the past years are good enough to join the 6 Nations. It shows that their youth system is as good as Italy and the players coming through are also as good, and that matches at senior level must be held between Italy, Samoa, Scotland and Argentina on a regular basis.
The Georgian Under 18 team, coached by former flanker Ilia Maisuradze who played at the 2007 World Cup are now guaranteed to finish in the top six Nations of the European Under 18 Championship, if they beat Scotland Under 18's in their final match they will finish fifth.
But that view has been made to look foolish by the Georgian Under 18 team, who with tries from Revaz Brodzeli and Giorgi Pruidze defeated the Italian Under 18 team. Of course youth games are not always reflective of the senior games as nations with most depth and player bases tend to do better than in senior rugby, but you don't get nations who are "not nearly as strong" in senior rugby beating nations in junior rugby.
This result supports that Georgia, who have dominated the European Nations Cup (6 Nations B) over the past years are good enough to join the 6 Nations. It shows that their youth system is as good as Italy and the players coming through are also as good, and that matches at senior level must be held between Italy, Samoa, Scotland and Argentina on a regular basis.
The Georgian Under 18 team, coached by former flanker Ilia Maisuradze who played at the 2007 World Cup are now guaranteed to finish in the top six Nations of the European Under 18 Championship, if they beat Scotland Under 18's in their final match they will finish fifth.
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