Legendary Samuel Tana Umaga, who scored 36 tries in 74 matches for New Zealand is already in Georgia. At this time it can be said that he will held “The Lelos” before holding the match against Japan (November 17), Fiji national team (November 24). Then everything will be depended on Georgians.
A former coach of French “Tuloune” and “Chipsy” of New Zealand, who trains “Country Manukau” now, is friend of the current head coach of Georgian national team, Milton Haig and he has arrived in Georgia by his invitation.  According to Haig, Umaga will see hospitality of Georgia, will taste Georgian dishes and he might be in managing boar of Georgian national team for the world championships 2015.
 As far as you know, when Milton Haig was appointed as head coach of Georgian national team said that he would try to invite Tana Umaga in Georgia and now his promise came true. Meeting with an old friend made happy Umaga too. Our guest will rest today and when he starts working he will meet Georgian journalists too and will talk about the future.
Tana Umaga: “I have a chance to work with Milton Haig again. I used to work with him in “Manukau” and now he asked me to come here and to help in training Georgian national team. I hope, while I am here I will help your team and will give the experience what I gained during these years. Now I can say that I will help Haig and Georgian national team for two test-matches which are planned in November and I hope that I will play my role in success of the team.
I know some Georgian rugby players. Gia Labadze was one of the leaders of “Tuloune” while playing in it, later I was working with Davit Kubriashvili. Georgians have very strong rugby players. Most of all I would distinguish strikers. I wonder how your back line plays, I have to work with them. I will train those guys and time will show the results. I am not here for a little time and it is difficult to plan some serious changes in such a short period. But changing some details is possible and I will do it in any case”.
Milton Haig: “Two very serious matches area ahead us soon and experience of such a player and head coach as Tana Umaga is, really will be good for us. We want to show him Georgian hospitality, very delicious dishes. I am sure he will like all these. Tana Umaga is a friend of my family and he will be pleased to see my children too. I also hope that we will manage to reach agreement for being Tana Umaga in managing board of Georgia for world championships 2015. But now he will help us only for two matches. He is a busy person and he cannot stay here for a long time.

We are searching such candidate for changing Chris Gibsy, who will stay with us for a long time and we have not chose anyone else yet. Now two Georgian specialists will be our assistants. I also have experience in working in some positions and I think there will not be any problem”.
 

Zura Ksovreli
 Photo by Khatia Jijeishvili