On July 15 Georgian national 7s rugby team left for the city of Portugal, Elgarvese, where on July 20-21 will fight for going through World Cup 2013. Kakha Alania and Pavle Jimshelidze coaches of the team chose the best staff for the team, which increases chances of success. There are the following players in the team: Irakli Machkhanei, who has not played for 7s team for a long time, Merab Sharikadze, Merab Kvirikashvili and Tedo Zibzibadze. Bachana Kolelishvili is a new face in the team.12 teams participate in the qualifying round of World Cup in European zone, 8 teams will leave for Moscow tournament 2013. 3 places are already reserved- Wales, 2013 world champion, European champion England and host Russia. This fact increases chances for Georgia to get place in top 5 in Portugal. After ending group stage, first-second place winner teams will go on fighting in the semi-final, but their goal is – to gain right of going through the World Cup. Third-fourth place winners will fight for the semi-final, V place.
Georgian national team is in group B with France, Germany and Belgium. Alania’s players hold the first match with Germany on July 20 at 20:44 o’clock (Tbilisi time). On July 21 at 01:30 o’clock (Tbilisi time) against France and on July 21 at 21:50 o’clock (Tbilisi time) quarter-final match starts and on July 22 the tournament finishes.
Other groups are the following, Group A: Portugal, Ukraine, Italy, Lithuania and Group C: Spain, Scotland, Holland and Romania.
 

Georgian national 7s team at World Cup qualifying: Beka Bitsadze, Merab Sharikadze, Irakli Machkhaneli, Irakli Gvinjilia, Mrab Kvirikashvili, Irakli Gegenava, Levan Gogolashvili, Giorgi Pruidze, Tedo Zibzibadze, Shalva Makharashvili, Lasha Khmaladze, Bachana Kolelishvili.
Head coach: Kakha Alania.
Coach: Pavle Jimsheladze.
 

Zurab Ksovreli