Georgian rugby optimistic on more international funding

Georgian rugby has good prospects Mark Egan, who heads the development committee of the International Rugby Board (IRB), said yesterday as he rounded off a two-day trip to Tbilisi.

During his visit, which was a follow-up to the IRB observation group’s trip to Georgia last month, Egan met with Georgian Rugby Union (GRU) officials as well as Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze.

He welcomed the government’s plans to develop the sport and its planned investment in the field, adding that Georgia would be a priority country for the IRB.

“[The] last world cup brought very high revenue but it must be distributed among 116 countries worldwide, though Georgia…[is one of] our primary targets because we see fast progress of the game here,” Egan said.

He also said that Georgia’s performance in international tournaments was impressive given that there are only 2 600 registered rugby players in the country. In Egan’s home country, Ireland, the figure is 120 000.

His findings will be discussed at an April 30 IRB meeting in Dublin, where the organization will make decisions on future funding in Georgia.

The GRU currently receives USD 118 000 annually from the IRB to develop the Georgian rugby infrastructure while the national team receives a separate USD 180 000.

GRU president Gia Nizharadze says the organization hopes to receive a boost in funding, at least for the national team.

Egan said that IRB is ready to finance the construction of a number of rugby fields around the country, two of which will be high standard artificial surfaces in Tbilisi and Kutaisi.

The IRB official also said that Georgia would be considered as a future host of international tournaments and promised to help arrange more international games for the country.

Egan, a retired rugby player himself, had the chance to conduct some personal business on the trip—his former Kobe Style team coach Tim Lane now coaches the Georgian national team.