Valery Kochanov, head coach of Ukrainian rugby team, knows that his team has no chance against Georgian rugby players but he thinks that his team is a winner anyway. Rugby is being developed in Ukraine now.

Before Ukrainians left for Tbilisi, an important moment occurred in Ukrainian rugby. Zaza Lejava was appointed as a consultant of Ukrainian national team. Lejava had played in Ukraine for a long time. Then he was member of Ukrainian national team. Now, Lejava is a head coach of “Kredo 63” Odessa. Kochanov and Lejava held a press conference for Georgian journalists and they started talking about the current bad situation in Ukrainian rugby union.

“We have the same problem that you had at the beginning of 1990s. I hope that we will overcome this period with Zaza soon. Ukrainian rugby team consists of those players who play for two Ukrainian rugby clubs (“Olimp” Kharkiv and “Kredo” Odessa). We know that we have no chance to win this match but somehow we are winners already. Georgia has the best rugby school among post Soviet Union countries and it is a great experience for us to play against them. It will do us good” – stated Kocharov.

Lejava talked about those Georgian rugby players who are playing for Ukrainian clubs and gained Ukrainian citizenship. Only one from them, Zurab Kikacheishvili arrived in Georgia.

“Jaba Malaguradze is injured. Kikacheishvili will be in the main staff. There are some other rugby players. Maybe, they will show up in Ukrainian team” – stated Lejava.

Also, Lejava stated that his team does not hope to win over Georgia and Romania but they will use these matches for the preparation against Spanish team.

French refereeing staff will judge the match between Georgia and Ukraine. Cyril Lafon will be a referee. Erik Sulan and Laurean Valen will be his assistants.

European “Nations Cup” 2011-2012. I round

February 5, Tbilisi. “Mikheil Meskhi”

Georgia– Ukraine (15:00)

Ukrainian team: 1. Sergey Sukhikh, 2. Mikola Kirsanov (cap), 3. Ivan Zalizniak, 4. Viacheslav Krasilnik, 5. Roman Kulakivski, 6. Bogdan Voloshin, 7. Oleksandr Lomakin, 8. Oleksandr Tsapenko; 9. Zurab Kikacheishvili, 10. Sergey Tserkovn, 11. Oleg Kosariev, 12. Pavlo Masiukov, 13. Sergey Garkav, 14. Sergey Monastirov, 15. Viacheslav Ponomarenko.

Reserve team: Evgeny Chaika, Oleksandr Polianki, Oleksi Novokreshchenko, Andrey Golishchev, Sergey Ianchi, Vadim Misik, Denis Masiukov, Oleksandr Mishinov.

Zurab Ksovreli