New coaches of Georgian National Rugby Team did not let Davit Kacharava a back-liner play in the main staff against Canadian and American National Teams.

25-year-old rugby player required the reason and was answered in such way-“we trust you and wanted to check others”.  He also informed “World Sport” about future plans and playing style against Scotish and Argentine National Teams and stated that they are going to oppress those teams physically.

Kacharava whith his team “Nitsa” of France federal 1 fights for advancing in the second elite division Pro D2. There are 4 teams in the first federal and after finishing tournament the best from these four goes through play off. Fight continues in 1/8final and 2 finalists advanced in upper division. “Nitsa” is on the third place after the first circle and has chance of going through play off. Georgian player took part in 9 matches from 11 and played full time in 8 matches, once was changed. Kachatava has been playing in National Team since 2006, he participated in 38 matches of national teams and scored 7 tries.

- When did you start playing rugby and why did you interest in this sport?
- I started playing rugby in 1994. I was going for tennis before that. It was winter, cours were in terrible condition and I could not train normally. One day my brother told me that schoolmates were going to go for rugby and I also joined them. I had not knewn anything this kind of sport before, even had never seen a rugby ball. We trained on asphalt at “locomotive” old stadium. I was the youngest, some of them were 7-8 elder than me. There is big difference at little age and I did not like training. But I went for training several times and time by time I liked this sport very much. I felt in love with rugby and started playing in “Kochebi” Tbilisi.

- Then you left for Russia and were playing in “Enisey”.
- After World Cup 2007, I had offer from Frnace. I was waiting better offer but in vein. At this time Rati Urushadze called me, he was playing in “Enisey” and told me that Russian club was interested in me. They had meeting in Turkey and I went there, soon they offered me to sign agreement. I spent one season in Russia, we took the second place and became the best player with 13 tries. When Tim Lane was appinted as a head coach of Georgia, he offered me playing in “Nitsa”. There was Australian manager in this club, he was Tim’s friend and in such way I appeared in France.

- Was it good decision to continued career in “Nitsa”?
- With sport standpoints it was, because The French play better rugby than the Russian. There is bigger chance to get in better club here. “Enisey” is one of the best clubs of Russian Championship and there was not chance of developing more than I was. I would stay in the same condition. There are more possibilities in France, they play rugby better and preparation conditions are better. 

- Is there higher level in federal 1 than in supreme league of Russian championship?
- Sure there is, it is too strong. There are more teams and they play moder rugby. Veterns of elite teams finish their carrers in federal-division clubs, or if anyone has traumva also plays there. You do not have chance to play with such players anywhere. There are many legionaries in France, because this country is well-paid all over the world. There is big resistance in federal-division, not to say anything about higher divisions. 

- Only Georgian first-liners manage to play in French elite-division and back-liners are not given this chance, why?
- Georgian first-liners became popular long ago and that’s why. “Leonsio”, then Goderdzi Shvelidze… old rugby was based on strebgh and not only Georgian first-liners, back-liners also woned the same physical conditions. We have high class players at this position in Georgian National Team.  It is more difficult to gain this position in Georgian team than in some French club.

- Are you going to continue career in stronger club afte finishing season?
-I am finishing the second season in “Nista” and my agreement expires on July 31. I do not have offer from better club, I will continue playing here in such case if we manage to advance in Pro D2. My club has serious aim, but I cannot say that we are so strong that we will be able to achive our goal. But my club is not bad and lets see what will happen. The club has new owner. The English have gone and The French replaced them. The city hall supports hard to our club, they have serious goals and promise us new stadium. But without success they maybe refuse to carry out their plans. If we do not advance in higher league, then I will decide where to continue career.

- Now “Nitsa” is on the third place and has chance of going through play-off..
- Yes, 4 teams go through the play off and I think it will not be difficult for us. The main thing is then, when we go through the final. “Nitsa” is strange club, we won over strong rivals but lost with outsiders. In the last round outsider beat us, in case of winning we would be on the first place. Before season, 15 new players added us and to get on them was not easy process in such short time.Everyone wants to be distinguished against “Beziesrs” and “Montpelier” but against outsiders it seems that we are lazy. There is also problem with referees.

- How did you get on Nitsa?
- For living it is not good city. Population is multinational and criminal is very common. Visiting for two-three weeks it is good city but for living I prefer calm town.
- How terms are in the club?
- “Nista” is semiprofessional club. There are only 17 professionals, others are amateurs. As for professionals, we have training twice or three times and rest only one day. If we play on Sunday, we rest on Saturday. The tense days are Thursday and Tuesday.

- While you were in “Enisey” you were playing in Georgian National Team regurally, after transferring in “Nitsa” you lost place in the main staff…
- “Enisey” and “Nitsa” are not reasons, just there were changed coaches in national team. Dixson came with his team and they decided in such way. I do not agree with their decision. I talked to coaches, they talked to me positively – we are getting for World Cup, you have been for so long time and we know about your possibilities, now we want to check others, because we want to take 2 teams in New Zealand, in every four days we will have match and they explaied their decision in such way.
- What did new chaoches change in team?
- I did not play in the main staff, but in spite of this I am satisfied with training. It seems that they want to do something good. I hade good relations with former coahch but in spite of this he was not active, as if he was lazy to work.

- What is tactic of new coaches?
- We could not realize what our coach wanted from us before and it was problem. But new coaches let us play Georgian rugby, it is based on strength and I think that it is right. In one year we cannot become Frenches. It is not necessary to ignore such style what is well done by team. Main thing is to find right tactic to our style. They try to activate back lines, but they said on the contrary against Canadian and American teams. Those coaches worked with many teams and clubs and as they said they had never seen such strong team as we are. They hope that, we will oppress physically Scotish and Argetine National Teams at World Cup, but I canot say the same about English team.

- Argentine team’s playing is also based on strength, is not it?
- Yes, it is. But they are not very strong.
- What chace do we have at World Cup?
- I do not know chance but our aim is to beat Scotish and Argentine National Teams. We won only one match in the last World Cup and now we want to improve this result. By the way, we will have very difficult match against Romanian team in New Zealand.  They have a lot of legionaries in France and their rugby is based on strength as ours.

-What can you say about matches against Canadian and American teams?
- We did almost everything well against Canadian team. Only last 20 minutes was difficult. I think that last minutes are problem for our team and I think it is due to our physical conditions. We play well for 60 minyutes and then we have lack of power. Everyone does his best in national team and soon we have lack of power.Players form Elite clubs are in percect physicl conditions but players from low division clubs are not.  We did coaches’ instruction against Canadian team and I was thinking that would do it better against American team but it happened on a contrary. I am sure that of these matches took place in other countries we would not win them.

- Do the new coaches have potential to manage and achieve goals at World Cup?
- According to the training I think that we will have progress in any case, they are motivated and it can be said that they are as motivated as players. It was present to hire sich coaches before World Cup. Now they have to show what they can.
- Was it Logical to fire Tim Layn, after winning right to play at World Cup?
- To my mind, he had to be fired year ago. Layn had to leave, if it happened earlier coaches would have more time for preparation. I think Layn would not be able to prepare such team which would improve results in New Zealand.
- In February-March Georgian National Team comopetes at Nations Cup. Will coahes use it as preparation or they will be oriented on result?
- In my opinion, they have to use it as preparation. They have so short time that it can be done in other way. It is necessary their ideas to be realized, to carry out all these are necessary a lot of matches.

- Does Georgian Rugby have progress?
- There ws regress for 2-3 years in Georgia and in compare that time, Georgian Championship’s level also improved. People are interested in this sport and it is very good, but interest must not be arisen only playing against Russian National Team.
- Georgia hosted “Black Sea Cup” first time this year.
- I watched matched and liked playing of our teams very much. I was thinking that Romanians would become champions, but.. Supposedly they also did not wait such playing from Georgian team. If this tournament talkes place agiain they will come more prepared.  
- This year Russian clubs did not come, but their participation is planned for the future. There are talks to invite French clubs also. How do you think, will they agree with this offer in federal 1?
- My team was interested to play against Georgian A team. The point is finance. French clubs do not have big budget and if Georgian side finance it, why not?! Georgians have good teams and each club wants to play against such rivals.

- You were playing in Russian championship and what is our chance against strong Russian clubs?
- If  there is made team from clubs it is possible to beat them, in other way it will be difficult. If we add 3 players to Russian champion “VVA Podmoskovie” it is Russian National Team and everyone known their possibilities. Russian rugby level is very high. They participate in each tournaments and pay such salary to players that no one leav team. Their 7s national team regurally take part in World series and it imtpoves rugby level.
- Georgian 7s national team got right to participate in World series. Will you take part if you are called up?
- With great pleasure, but to my mind Georgian 7s national team is not paid normal attention. There are not meeteings before this tournament. If this team seriously will be paid attention, I will play with great pleasure.
-What is necessary to improve Georgian Rugby?
- PR.  It is necessary to offer something to fans for attending the matches.
- What is spectators’ role during match?
- They were supporting us against Canadian and American National Teams orginizly and I was very pleased. When you are on rge field and see spectators, you guess that people like and appreciate what you do and it gives a power. When there are only relatives and friends of players at tribunes, you have feeling that no one interest in you. There was old joke, family members and aquitances go to rugby match as well as at funerals.  Spectator is the 16^th player abd when situation is tense, spectator decides everything. If the match against Ireland at World Cup was held in Georgia, I am sure we would destroy them. Spectators made us win in Trabzon also. When opponent scored try and looked each other, we guessed that it would be shame to loose in front of so many spectators and they gave us power to change situation radically. Spectators should attend rugby as well as basketball and football matches. They are necessary for sport and we should develop together.

Zura Ksovreli