Today "Batumi XV", silver medal winner of the last year Georgian Rugby Championship, will start participation in "Black Sea Cup" and will try to stop Romanian "Arad" going through the final by defeating it. We remind you, that "Black Sea Cup" is the first international club tournament where Georgian clubs are competing. This tournament was founded by the initiative of Georgian Rugby Union, under patronage of IRB and according to the initial plan, 4 Russian, 2 Romanian and Georgian clubs were to participate in it. But because of policy and in spite of great desire of Russian Rugby Union and their clubs, Russian clubs refused to come to Tbilisi. Two Ukrainian clubs were to replace 4 Russian clubs. At the last moment "Aviator" Kiev had financial problem and denied to leave for Georgia. Finally, only 2 Romanian, one Ukrainian and 3 Georgian clubs will participate in "Black Sea Cup" tournament.
6 clubs are competing in 2 3-club groups. After finishing group round, first place winners will fight for the main prize in the final, second place winners - for the 3rd place and those clubs which will take the last place will fight for the 5th place. In the group round points are given by Southern Rugby Style. Clubs will get 4 points for the winning the match, 2 points for draw, zero for lose and one bonus point for scoring 4 or more tries, or losing with less than 7 points.
One club from both 2 groups did not play in the first round - "Batumi XV" and Romanian "Bucharest" will start participation today. In the first round "Lokomotivi" Tbilisi (Group A) which participates instead of the second Ukrainain club almost made a miracle. After 0:21, several minutes before the end of the match, "Lokomotivi" overtake Romanian "Arad" 28:27 and in the added time Romanians scored drop goal and after another 2 minutes Georgian players could not score penalty kick and was defeated with 2-point difference. Romanians gained 4 points because they scored only two tries. "Lokomotivi" gained one bonus point for being defeated with less than 8 points.
Now "Batumi XV" starts competing in the tournament. Romanians will not have a right to play in the final if "Batumi XV" beats them. Then everything will be decided in the last round when "Arad" will rest and Georgian clubs - "Lokomotivi" and "Batumi XV" will hold a match. Last year "Batumi XV" took the 2nd place but now they do not play so well as before. Some changes were made in its and coaching staffs for the international tournament. Only for "Black Sea Cup" former coach of the club Levan Mgeladze (head coach of "Vissol-Kochebi" Tbilisi) returned to the club. Some rugby players from other Georgian clubs are playing in "Batumi XV" now. The most players are from "Aia" Kutaisi which is competing brilliantly in Georgian Championship this year and is leading the tournament schedule after the first round.
"Sports News" contacted Levan Mgeladze, acting head coach of "Batumi XV", and talked to him about the upcoming match and preparation for the tournament.
Levan Mgeladze: Today evening we will have last training. Tomorrow we will rest and talk before the start of the match.
- When did you start preparation and which club players are playing in your team now?
- We started preparation on August 16 but not with full staff. Some players from "Aia" Kutaisi and "Batumi XV" were competing in beach rugby tournament and they joined us later. We are competing in the name of "Batumi XV" but most players are from Kutaisi. Some players are from other clubs.
- In fact, a new club is formed and did you find it hard to play them together?
- The match will show it. We wanted to hold a friendly match but we could not manage to do it.
- "Arad" has already held one match at "Black Sea Cup". What can you say about your opponent?
- It is a normal club. Romanians are playing European rugby. They are fast players and play well with hand. This was their trump against "Lokomotivi". They play well in outs. But we have noticed some weak points and we will try to use them.
- Can you say more concretely?
- They have weak player in scrum. They give position while scrumming and we should use it. We will do our best to beat "Arad" because in case of victory they will go through the final. If we win, the finalist will be found out in the last round between "Lokomotivi" and us. Generally, selfless play is Georgians advantage against any opponent. We gain success at expense of scrum players but I want us to play more modern rugby. It is good when forwards are shooting but it is more pleasant to watch attack by backs. Backs scored all 4 tries of "Lelo" and that was really good.
- You are coach of "Vissol-Kochebi" and how did you turn out to be head of "Batumi XV" for "Black Sea Cup"?
- Last year when "Batumi XV" took the 2nd place I was training this team. Boys and management of the club believe in me and they asked me to help them only for "Black Sea Cup" and I agreed.
The second day of Group B will end without Georgian club. Georgian Champion "Lelo" which beat Ukrainian "Kredo 63" 28:10 in the first round and gained a bonus point for scoring 4 tries is resting now. Romanian club "Bucharest" will start participation in the tournament. The opponent of Romanians will be "Kredo 63" defeated by "Lelo". Georgian club does not play on this day in this group but there are Georgian players (4) in the staff of Ukrainian club. Head coach of "Kredo 63" is Georgian Zaza Lejava. Ukrainians have to beat Romanians with a big difference and should gain a bonus point (minimum 4 tries) to keep the chance of going through the final. If "Bucharest" wins the match. the final match of this group ("Lelo" - "Bucharest") will be a mini final.
Today's matches, as well as other matches of "Black Sea Cup" will be held on the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium. Match between "Batumi XV" and "Arad" will start at 18:00 and "Kredo 63" - "Bucharest" - at 20:00.


Group A
August 24. Tuesday. 20:00
Lokomotivi (Tbilisi) - Arad (Romania) 28:30 (7:21)

1. Arad 1 1 0 0 30-28 4
2. Lokomotivi 1 0 0 1 28-30 1
3. Batumi XV 0 0 0 0-0 0

August 28. Saturday. 18:00
Batumi XV (Batumi) - Arad (Romania)

September 1. Wednesday. 18:00
Batumi XV (Batumi) - Lokomotivi (Tbilisi)

Group B
August 24. Tuesday. 18:00
Lelo (Tbilisi) - Kredo 63 (Ukraine) 28:10 (16:7)

1. Lelo 1 1 0 0 28-10 5
2. Bucharest 0 0 0 0 0-0 0
3. Kredo 63 1 0 0 1 10-28 0

August 28. Saturday. 20:00
Kredo 63 (Ukraine) - Bucharest (Romania)

September 1. Wednesday. 20:00
Lelo (Tbilisi) - Bucharest (Romania)

September 4. Saturday. For the 5th place
A III - B III (18:00)

September 4. Saturday. For the 3rd place
A II - B II (20:00)

September 5. Sunday. Final
A I - B I (18:00)

Zura Ksovreli