With the bicentenary celebrations of the birth of the game of Rugby in full flow Mark Pawsey MP hosted the Ambassador of Georgia to the UK, Ambassador Sophie Katsarava MBE; Tornike Gogebashvili, CEO of Georgian Rugby Union and Gia Nizharadze, the Rugby-Europe Vice-President and Representative of Georgia at World Rugby.
Their visit was held in conjunction with Rugby’s Member of Parliament, Mark Pawsey MP. During their trip to Rugby the delegation visited Rugby School and met with the Executive Head Master, Peter Green who told them about the School’s plans for the bicentenary. They were able to see the hallowed turf where 200 years ago, William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it. They were also shown the exhibition Rugby School have created for the bicentenary, featuring artifacts dating back to the creation of the game on the fields of Rugby, to more recent treasures including the “Wooden Spoon” presented to a group of England fans by Irish fans after England finished last in the 1983 Five Nations. This led to the founding of the Wooden Spoon Charity, which 20 years later has raised over £27 million to transform the lives of vulnerable children and young people through the power of rugby.
The delegation also spent time at the Webb Ellis Museum, which houses memorabilia from rugby sides both local and national, including from Barbarians and Lions tours of the past. The museum is also now home to a Lelo Burti ball, donated by Ambassador Katsarava and the Georgian Rugby Union. Lelo Burti is a traditional game played in Georgia with many similarities to the game of rugby, although differs from rugby in that the ball is much larger, and traditionally can weigh as much as fifteen kilogrammes. The Georgian rugby team is known as “The Lelos” in recognition of this connection.
Mark said:
“Our town is the only place in the world which has given its name to an internationally played game and the bicentenary is a great opportunity to celebrate it. Sport is also a great way to build lasting connections and friendships, both at an individual level and between our nations, and so it was a great pleasure to welcome the Ambassador, Mr Gogebashvili and Mr Nizharadze to Rugby, to see for themselves the historic ground on which the game we all play was created.”
Ambassador Sophie Katsarava added:
“I am grateful to Mark Pawsey for hosting us again in Rugby, as it marks 200th anniversary of the game of rugby. Georgia, as a proud rugby nation, traces its rugby roots back to the ancient folk sport of Lelo Burti, now displayed in the Rugby museum. I am pleased we have established friendly relations with Rugby and I look forward to seeing these ties enhanced in the future. Many congratulations to Rugby on its 200th anniversary.”