Global Partners
Global Partners
label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text
Listen Live
  • Get Tickets
  • Video
  • News
  • Teams
  • Get Tickets
  • Video
  • News
  • Teams
  • Venue
  • Qualifying
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ Tickets
  • About RWC Sevens
  • Media
  • Contact Us
World Rugby
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
  • About RWC Sevens
  • Media
  • Contact Us
Latest News
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Spain Sevens Seville 2022 - Women's
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe keen to drive Ireland onto Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

We spoke to the prolific Ireland star about backing up the team’s success in Seville and plotting their path to Cape Town in September.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 26 April, 2022
4 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
5 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Everything you need to know about Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Your guide to RWC Sevens 2022, which will take place in Cape Town between 9-11 September this year.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 8 April, 2022
5 min read
Dubai Emirates Airline Rugby Sevens 2021 - Men's
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Perfection, not silverware, the focus for South Africa and Selvyn Davids

We caught up with the Blitzboks star, who has helped guide his side to the top of the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings as the countdown continues to their home Rugby World Cup Sevens.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 5 April, 2022
3 min read
2018 Highlights
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
08:29 mins

Highlights: New Zealand win big in San Francisco

New Zealand retained their Rugby World Cup Sevens title in San Francisco
Mon 23 July, 2018
08:29 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
07:03 mins

Highlights: New Zealand women's win Rugby World Cup Sevens

Check out all the top action as New Zealand win The Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco
Sun 22 July, 2018
07:03 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
06:30 mins

HIGHLIGHTS: Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two

Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two of action at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 #RWC7s
Sun 22 July, 2018
06:30 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day One
06:51 mins

Highlights: Men's quarter-finals decided

Men's quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup Sevens decided after incredible first day at AT&T Park
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:51 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
06:26 mins

Highlights: Women's semi-finals confirmed at Rugby World Cup Sevens

Championship semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day one of action
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:26 mins
Monday 31 January, 2022
4 min read

Sharikadze backs Georgia to keep improving in 2022 as young talent keeps ‘old guard’ on their toes

Last year was one of highs - and one big low - for a men’s national team that want to kick on to Rugby World Cup 2023
  • label.share.via_facebook_messenger
  • label.share.via_whatsapp
  • label.share.via_facebook
  • label.share.via_twitter
  • label.share.via_copy
    URL Copied

It was a year of highs on the pitch and one big low off it in 2021 for the Georgian men’s national team.

On the pitch, they once again swept away all before them to win the Rugby Europe Championship title with five wins from five.

They finished on 24 points, some 10 points clear of nearest challengers Romania, and that showing leaves them in pole position to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.

The points from this year’s Rugby Europe Championship, which gets underway this coming Saturday, 5 February, will be added to those from 2021 with the top two from the combined table qualifying for the showpiece event and a third team going through to the Final Qualification Tournament.

After Georgia lifted the Rugby Europe Championship cup in 2021 they pushed reigning world champions South Africa close before being overpowered 40-9 away from home in July.

Later and back in Europe, they took on France and gave them a run for their money before going down 41-15, and then they drew 15-15 with a Fiji side who are one place ahead of them in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings powered by Capgemini.

The current state of play for Georgia

All of this leaves Georgia 12th in the world in a good spot and ready to make headway in the coming months or so. However, one massive low came for them last July when they were in South Africa.

Head coach Levan Maisashvili fell critically ill whilst on the tour due to COVID-19 and, according to some experts, was very lucky to pull through.

National team skipper Merab Sharikadze explains: “That was a very scary time, not a good one for anyone involved with rugby in Georgia.

“When we heard just how ill Levan was, all of the players and the other staff were concerned for him of course because he is a great man who has done so much for rugby in our country over the years.

“He had to stay in South Africa for quite a while and was seriously ill in the beginning, but it shows the fight the man has in him that by the time Black Lion, the Georgian franchise in the Rugby Europe Super Cup, played our first game of the tournament in October he was back coaching us from the sidelines.

“When he turned back up at training only a few months after he took ill we could not quite believe it, but it put big smiles on all of our faces and now all of Georgian rugby is pushing in a positive direction as 2022 gets going.”

Centre Sharikadze, the 28-year-old who now has 80 caps for his country, references the Rugby Europe Super Cup and it was certainly a great way to get young players game time at a good level during the latter months of 2021.

To date in the inaugural running of the competition - which still has one outstanding regular season match to go and then the play-offs - Black Lion have won four and lost one to top the Eastern Conference ahead of two franchises from Russia and one from Israel.

“The Super Cup has been very good in its early months for Georgian rugby,” Sharikadze said.

“Since Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan we have tried to bring through a number of young players into our full Georgia squad so that there is more competition for starting places and more strength in depth across the board.

“Obviously, 2020 was quite difficult as the pandemic took hold over the world, but last year some of these younger players got a really good run of games with the national team and then the experience with Black Lion and it is easy to see how much they have improved already.

“We are all very excited about these new players and what they add to our group as a national squad. They are always running about with lots of energy at training and are talented, so they have made the older players like me raise our games too so that we keep our places in the squad.

“Everyone pushing everyone else’s standards up can only help Georgia rugby forward to the next level.”

The next generation

The ‘new crop’ of Georgian talent is led by standout Tedo Abzhandadze who, at 22, already has nearly 30 caps to his name.

And when Sharikadze talks about pushing standards up, he’s well aware that his side will have to do just that in this year’s Rugby Europe Championship over the next couple of months.

The event starts with Romania facing Russia on Saturday, 5 February and Spain host the Netherlands on the same day, and then, on 6 February, Georgia welcome Portugal to the Avchala Stadium in their capital city Tbilisi.

“When we went away to play Portugal last March they gave us a good game [Georgia eventually won 29-16 in Lisbon] and they are certainly a side that has been improving very quickly over the last couple of years,” Sharikadze said about their first opponents of 2022.

“We have watched footage of them from last year and will have to defend well in the game against them, but we know if we can get on the front foot and attack the way we like to then we will hope to start with a win in our own country.

“Every country raises their standards in the Championship when they play us because we have been the team to beat in the competition for a number of years now.

“We know that all the other five countries will throw everything at us and we must be ready for that and also look to steadily improve our consistency and performances.

“I am looking forward to it.”

The Rugby Europe Championship is due to run until Sunday, 20 March with games being played on the same five weekends that the Six Nations is on, so it is a big couple of months for men’s rugby in Europe.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about the Rugby Europe Championship 2022

Trending News Show all
2018 Commonwealth Games women's final
3 min read

Commonwealth Games

All the build-up to rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games 2022

Now that the line-ups are complete in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, we take a look at who has won gold in the past and the sides competing to add their names to the roll call of honour in July.

Commonwealth Games

Wed 11 May, 2022
3 min read
Madagascar qualify for rugby world cup sevens
4 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Discipline and hard work at the heart of Madagascar's success on the road to Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

The Madagascar women's sevens team has achieved their historic dream of qualifying for a Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament for the first time. At the heart of this achievement lies a lot of hard work, determination and discipline.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Wed 11 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Seven women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series players to watch in Toulouse

Following an exciting weekend in Langford we look at seven women’s stars who could light up Toulouse between 20-22 May.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 5 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
7 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia clinch overall 2022 series title while late Lily Dick try gives them Cup win in Langford

Hosts Canada took fifth place while Ireland flyer Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe bagged 12 tries as they won bronze in the HSBC Canada Sevens in Langford.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Mon 2 May, 2022
7 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
5 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia edge towards HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series glory in Langford as New Zealand provide thrills on return

Australia are closing in on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title after a perfect start to the penultimate event of the season in Canada, while the Black Ferns came back with a bang at the Starlight Stadium.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Sun 1 May, 2022
5 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Captains on top of the world ahead of the HSBC Canada Women's Sevens in Langford

The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to the home of Rugby Canada after a 1,083 day break as Australia look to clinch their first Series title since to 2018.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Fri 29 April, 2022
3 min read
Santiago Gómez Cora
5 min read

rugby sevens

Santiago Gómez Cora: “You have to be patient, trust a lot and do the hard work”

World Rugby caught up with Los Pumas Sevens coach about Argentina’s recent win in the HSBC Canada Sevens and what it means to him going forward.

rugby sevens

Thu 28 April, 2022
5 min read
Charlotte Caslick
3 min read

HSBC Sevens Series

Series title within Australia’s reach as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to Langford

We spoke to Australia co-captain Charlotte Caslick about her team's mindset heading into this weekend's HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series stop in Langford knowing they can wrap up the series title.

HSBC Sevens Series

Wed 27 April, 2022
3 min read
Global Partners
label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text
  • Rugby World Cup Limited © 2007 - 2022. All Rights Reserved.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Cookies Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Rugby World Cup Sevens
  • World Rugby Media Zone
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語