Wave noise, sand and 12 teams, two of them - women's teams. Fight, physical strength, friendly aspiration and a great joy. What is it? Beach volleyball? Beach soccer? No! It is beach rugby - the most entertaining rugby tournament which is held on Adjara beach for the 3rd time.
This year tournament will take place in the new district of Batumi Boulevard on August 14-15. Rugby beach field was built for the first time in Georgia and it was officially open on the first day of tournament.
Beach rugby is a seaside sport. It is very popular in Europe, especially in Italy, where festival tournament takes place in Liniano each summer. A popular tournament in the United States is "7's By The Sea", hosted in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Since 2007 beach rugby has formed as a new rugby discipline under the patronage of IRB. As 7's, beach rugby is distinguished with a short time playing. It is possible that beach rugby may be taken into Summer Olympic Games.
The field of beach rugby is between 30-50 metres long, 20-35 metres wide. There are no goalposts on the field, and the lines are usually marked with some sort of tape or rope. Either 5 or 7 players are allowed on the field for one team. Between 3 and 7 reserves are allowed. Scoring depends on the decision of league. In most cases, one goal means one point. Each half lasts 5-7 minutes with a 1-3 minute interval.
Players are scoring goals with somersaults. "Supporting groups" of girls in swimsuits are attracting people's eye.
Beach rugby league was formed in Georgia in 2006. The following year the first tournament was held in Kobuleti which was organized by Georgian Rugby Union, government of Kobuleti and LIVE BAR (near Intourist). Raul Shvelidze, head of Kobuleti police, and Dima Oboladze, journalist of "Rustavi 2" TV company, who had 6 live broadcasts from the tournament, played also a great role in organizing this tournament.
The tournament was not held in 2008 because of war. In 2009, the tournament took place in Batumi with help of Mate Takidze, former minister of Adjara culture and sport. Veterans played with joy there.
6 amateur and 6 professional teams will participate in the tournament this year: Kutaisi "Aia", Tbilisi "Kochebi" and Rustavi "Kharebi" (they compete in Supreme League), Gori "Lomebi", Tbilisi TBA and "Devebi" (First League). Veterans and two women's teams are worth mentioning: Tbilisi "Jvarosnebi" and Baku "Caspian Cats" which is formed by Stef Silito and Pamela Kimsli, British workers of British Petroleum Baku office. Pamela Kimsli will attend the tournament and support her team. Batumi beach rugby tournament will take place on the new field which contains 1200 spectators. This field is situated on Center Point territory in front of its block of flats. Mate Takidze, former minister of Adjara culture and sport, and Irakli Mindeli, head of Batumi Center Point office, played a great role in building and organizing it.
Giorgi Nijaradze, president of Georgian rugby union, will open new field on the first day of tournament. Georgian Public Broadcasting TV company will broadcast the tournament.
www.rugby.ge
