Rugby Club Batumi LLC is a Georgian professional rugby union club from Batumi, who plays in the Didi 10, the first division of Georgian rugby. They have won the competition a total of 4 times.
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Full name | Rugby Club Batumi LLC | ||
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Union | Georgia Rugby Union | ||
Founded | 1969 | ||
Location | Batumi, Georgia | ||
Region | Adjara | ||
Ground(s) | Batumi Arena (Capacity: 1,500) | ||
Director of Rugby | Gela Kobuladze | ||
Coach(es) | Irakli Ninidze | ||
Captain(s) | Giorgi Tkhilaishvili | ||
League(s) | Didi 10 | ||
2023–24 | 5th | ||
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History
editDidi 10
editThey have won the top flight competition in Georgia 4 times over its history, the first coming in 1998–99, beating then reigning champions RC Kochebi Bolnisi. Their next title came in 2002, in an all Batumi final with the 1st team going up against the 2nd team, the 1st XV were victorious 27–10.[1]
European Rugby Continental Shield
editBatumi were invited to the 2017–18 European Rugby Continental Shield, they were seeded in Pool B with Italian sides Calvisano and Petrarca, as well as Portuguese side CDUL. With 2 wins and 2 losses Batumi finished second in their group advancing to the Pool play offs, being beaten by the Timișoara Saracens 32–18 over two matches.[2][3]
Rugby Europe Super Cup
editAfter winning the Didi 10 in the 2021–22 season, RC Batumi were invited to the 2022 Rugby Europe Super Cup to replace the two Russian sides after Enisei-STM and Lokomotiv Penza were suspended form the tournament.[4][5][6]
Their first match was a Georgian derby against the reigning champions Black Lion, Batumi falling to a 29–3 loss.[7] Their first win came on the 24 September against that years runners-up, beating Israeli side Tel Aviv Heat 19–11.[8] They finished 3rd in the Eastern Conference missing out on qualification for the semifinals.[9] They did not go on to feature in the 2023 edition of the competition.
Current squad
editPlayers
editRC Batumi squad for the 2024–25 Didi 10 season | ||
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Propsedit
HookerseditLocksedit |
Back-rowedit
Scrum-halveseditFly-halvesedit
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CentreseditOutside Backsedit
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Key
|
Role | Name |
---|---|
Manager | Gigi Khocholava |
Director of Rugby | Gela Kobuladze |
Head Coach | Irakli Ninidze |
Assistant Coach | Davit Gugushvili |
Assistant Coach | Paliko Jimsheladze |
Physical Trainer | Giorgi Chkhartishvili |
Video Analysis | Irakli Bezhanidze |
Team Doctor | Paata Tsintsabadze |
Physio | Tiko Laitadze |
Record in European games
editAs of 15 August 2024[update]
Opponent | Competition | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black Lion | Rugby Europe Super Cup | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 66 | +63 |
Heidelberger RK | European Rugby Continental Shield | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 16 | +17 |
Romanian Wolves | Rugby Europe Super Cup | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 40 | 33 | +7 |
Rugby Rovigo Delta | European Rugby Continental Shield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 31 | -4 |
Tel Aviv Heat | Rugby Europe Super Cup | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 36 | -9 |
Timișoara Saracens | European Rugby Continental Shield | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 38 | 49 | -11 |
Rugby Viadana | European Rugby Continental Shield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 27 | -4 |
Notable players
editInternationals
edit- Giorgi Tkhilaishvili
- Alexander Todua
- Lasha Khmaladze
- Luka Matkava
- Anzor Sitchinava
- Saba Shubitidze
- Niko Aptsiauri
Tournament | Players selected | Georgia players |
---|---|---|
1987–2011 | 0 | – |
2015 | 1 | Giorgi Tkhilaishvili |
2019 | 3 | Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, Alexander Todua, Lasha Khmaladze |
2023 | 3 | Luka Matkava, Alexander Todua, Lasha Khmaladze |
Honors
edit- Didi 10
- Champions: (4) 1998–99, 2001–02, 2018–19, 2021–22
- Runners-up: (6) 1997–98, 2000–01, 2008–09, 2016–17, 2020–21, 2022–23
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "კაცთა შინაური კვარცხლბეკი". stat-rugby-ge.translate.goog. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- ^ "2017/18 Continental Shield". Rugby Archive. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ Neacsu, Daniel (2017-12-13). "Timisoara Saracens este pregatita de drumul de 2000 de kilometri pentru urmatoarea confruntare europeana | OpiniaTimisoarei.ro". Opinia Timisoarei (in Romanian). Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- ^ "Batumi to join the Rugby Europe Super Cup". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- ^ "RC Batumi raring to go in Rugby Europe Super Cup". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- ^ "Rugby Europe Statement – Russia and Belarus Suspension". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- ^ "RC Batumi vs Black Lion". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "RC Batumi vs Tel Aviv Heat" (PDF). Rugby Europe. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Rugby Europe Super Cup 2022". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "დიდი 10 | ბათუმი". stat-rugby-ge.translate.goog. Retrieved 2024-08-15.