“We always had it in our history, in our DNA, to fight,” Levan Maisashvili, head coach of Georgia’s rugby union team, tells CNN Sport in an interview as he reflects on the proud, defiant nature of his small country.
“We always had it in our history, in our DNA, to fight,” Levan Maisashvili, head coach of Georgia’s rugby union team, says as he reflects on the proud, defiant nature of his small country. Maisashvili knows all about battling against the odds. In 2021, he was given a 1% chance of survival after contracting Covid-19 in South Africa, subsequently spending a month in a coma and losing 25 kilograms.
Georgia made its first appearance in a World Cup in 2003, losing all its matches. Despite the results, Collins says that the tournament “gave rugby a profile in Georgia that no other sport really had” and “came to symbolize how Georgians would like to see their country: it was an underdog, it was tough, it was hard, it was a fighting nation. Rugby came to embody these qualities.” This elevated rugby to something that helped give Georgia a sense of national identity.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Portugal goes for first Rugby World Cup win without banned winger Pinto against GeorgiaPortugal goes for its first win at a Rugby World Cup without winger Vincent Pinto after his red card in the team’s pool opener ruled him out of Saturday’s match against Georgia.
Read more »
Italy vs. Uruguay LIVE STREAM (9/20/23): Watch Rugby World Cup 2023 onlineItaly faces Uruguay in the Rugby World Cup 2023 on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 (9/20/23) at Nice Stadium in Nice, France.
Read more »
Italy rebounds to blow away Uruguay at the Rugby World CupItaly rallied to beat Uruguay 38-17 and set up a potentially decisive clash against New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup next week.
Read more »
Rested Argentina versus rushed Samoa in key Rugby World Cup pool matchArgentina and Samoa meet in a key pool clash at the Rugby World Cup on Friday in Saint-Etienne. Argentina is one of 12 fortunate teams to have a long break of 12-14 days between games at some point during the pool stage.
Read more »
Scotland changes 4 for Tonga match at the Rugby World CupScotland coach Gregor Townsend has made two changes to his forwards and two among the backs in his side for the Rugby World Cup match against Tonga on Sunday in Nice.
Read more »
Kelleher at hooker for Ireland in Rugby World Cup blockbuster against South AfricaRonan Kelleher will start at hooker for Ireland in its Rugby World Cup blockbuster against defending champion South Africa on Saturday at the Stade de France.
Read more »