marshall stalin
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Rubbish - Soviet Russia should be in the world cup in front of the Criminal usa
LYON, 20 September - Georgia's sterling efforts at the world cup have sparked an unprecedented wave of interest in the sport at the top of the country's political chain.
Georgia president Mikheil Saakashvili has announced plans to build at least 10 rugby stadiums over the next 12 months.
He also pledged to finance a top-flight competition in recognition of the exposure the IRB Rugby World Cup has given Georgia.
Speaking after his team's valiant 14-10 loss to Ireland on Saturday, Georgia captain Ilia Zedginidze reinforced the need for the country to forge their own championship.
"(Even though) playing in France allows the players to develop themselves really well, and for this we are really grateful to France, in Georgia there are not many structures for rugby to develop," Zedginidze said.
"In the next five years we have to do much more for the internal competition in Georgia."
Aiming for No.1
Zedginidze believes Georgia's improved standing in the international rankings - they've moved up one spot to 16th - is the most important result from the tournament.
"I hope that rugby will become the number-one sport in Georgia," Zedginidze said.
"Now everybody plays football and for our national team we have to choose 30 people out of less than 500 senior players.
"If you look at our younger players, we have some very good 11, 12 and 13 year-olds. They're as good as the French or English boys.
"In the future we will pay more attention to developing that age group so that we can become as strong as the French, English or any of the top sides. That's our objective."
As for Lelo proper, it is a national, free-for-all
ball game, originated before Christ. It was a common
practice to play lelo on Easter, with the priest
involved as ref
In modern form Lelo is played 15-a-side. The ball is
too heavy to throw it a long distance. Lelo is scored
by carrying, throwing, kicking or rolling the ball over
the opposition end-line and it counts for a single point.
Carrying, passing and kicking are unlimited but one can
tackle opposing ball-carrier only above the waist
It didn't work - but it was well and truely worth a shot.screeny said:Georgia was the RLEF's biggest c**k up. They sent them a pro coach and shot their mouths of about how great Georgia were on the basis of one or two good crowds built on foundations of yoghurt.
You can't take short cuts in developing the game, it would seem. Things have to be done methodically over a long period of time. Georgia was the game's tempting quick-fix nation-in-a-bag, or so the RLEF thought.
screeny said:Griff, I don't think you're necessarily right. Look at European development over the past few years. If we take a long term position on development why does it matter if the country has RU or not? WIth good coaching people become decent enough players and after a few years when schools begin these players become very good players. More importantly they become leaguies, in terms of their mindset and loyalties.
yes.screeny said:Roopy, when you say 'passed' do you mean 'were passed up' as in were ignored by the authorities?
griff said:But for those countries they don't really have that league/union warfare ideology. For them, it is just a different sort of rugby. I think if someone knows and plays rugby it is much easier to get them and say, hey have a go at this kind of rugby. Look how much better it is. If you want to play it, we can organise coaching and tours and world cup qualifiers etc.
In those countries, the whole infrastructure that RU has could easily decide to switch codes. If there are incentives in place for them to do so, then they might do it. Georgia didn't switch and decided to stick with RU because there were incentives for them to stay.
Georgia have a union coach, Richard Ale, who is a Tongan with experience in League.SteveM said:The Georgian RL situatuion is just a joke and the RLIF shound be embrassed about it.
Taking some RU players and forming an international RL side is not development. It pathetic.
Sam_the_woman - Are you telling me I am wrong ?. You clearly have no clue and believe everything you read about the "exciting development in international RL".
screeny said:I think you're being naive or are in denial, my friend: the Dutch RU didn't help Yanto, and there are documented instances of the Irish RU trying to prevent players from playing RL. Even Germany has problems with the RU coach entering their changing room threatening bans! Wherever there's both codes, there's conflict in my opinion as they're simply vying for a share of the same market.
As for an entire nation switching codes, why would they, so they can give up the $$$ handed to them by the rah rah pigs for our better rule book, superior moral history and shinier kits?