While Georgian national rugby union team will play against Russia in Sochi, “Future Georgia” (Georgia XV) will leave for England. As Georgian A team could not gather, the name of the team has changed and on March 23, they will play against British Army and on March 28 – against Oxford and Cambridge universities.

The team is called A if 30 candidates of the national team play for it. Levan Maisashvili could not gather them but he did not refuse to leave for England. There are such players in the team who will play for “The Lelos” next 4 years. It does not mean that these boys do not have chance to pay at World Cup in September-October. If anyone shows himself well, coaches will take him to World Cup.

It is worth mentioning that some rugby players who are tested in the national team will leave for England. According to Maisashvili, Vito Kolelishvili, Irakli Chkhikvadze and Jaba Bregvadze will arrive in England after the match against Russia. They will help “Future Georgia” to achieve success. “World Sport” talked to Levan Maisashvili about the future tour.

Levan Maisashvili: “On March 19, we are leaving for England where we will hold two matches – against British Army and Oxford and Cambridge universities. We are leaving with experimental staff. We cannot call our team A because of absence of some players. Clubs refused to let them play in this match. We consider recommendations of the national team coaches and we make the list of players together. Those players who are interesting for the coaches will leave for England.

- As French clubs do not let players play in this match, will only those players who play at the national championship leave for England?

- No, there will also be legionaries but only those who play for reserve teams and do not have problem. Also, there will be players from federal divisions but in this case, we have more problems. We have chosen 15-16 players only for the first line and to my surprise most of them have problem with clubs. In short, not all players will play in this match but part of them will be with us.

- Perhaps, mostly you have chosen young players.

- Mostly there are young players but also, we have some more experienced players. Most of the players were born in 1986-1989.

- Will those boys play in England who will compete in U-20 World Cup?

- No, they will not. We have agreed with coaches of U-20 team that as Tbilisi will host World Cup, we will not prevent them from preparation. Some players who were not tested before will be with us. Perhaps, they will play for the national team in future.

- Is not it a great risk to play with such experimental team against English clubs?

- It is a great risk but we did not know that clubs would not let players play in this match. If we had known that perhaps we would have chosen weaker teams. For example, Ukrainian team. I think, it is better if we play against strong team. We want players to gain experience. We could have planned the match against weak team and we would have beaten it but we did not do it. South Africans offered us weaker team “Blue Bulls Limpopo”. Russian team often plays against this team and beats it. We would have beaten them too but we will learn more against strong team. Besides that, it is not Georgian A team. We will play in the name of “Future Georgia” and I think this risk is justified.

- Will coaches of the national team attend your matches?

- Don Caskie will meet us in England. Also, Michael Bradley will arrive there and perhaps, Richard Dixon will attend the match too. The first match will be held against British Army on March 23. We will not have much time for preparation. Besides that, Vito Kolelishvili, Jaba Bregvadze and Irakli Chkhikvadze will join us later. Karlen Aseishvili has match in the club and will join us later. We will have the second match on March 28. I was told that Fijian and Tongan legionaries are playing for Army. I cannot say which team is stronger. When we will arrive there Don Caskie will provide us with more information.

- In June, Georgia is going to play at Bucharest tournament with A team…

- Unlike these team, we will play with A team in Bucharest. So, we will have stronger team. French Championship will have ended up by June and our legionaries will play for our team.

Zura Ksovreli