RC Batumi

RC Batumi
Full nameRugby Club Batumi LLC
UnionGeorgia Rugby Union
Founded1969; 55 years ago (1969)
LocationBatumi, Georgia
RegionAdjara
Ground(s)Batumi Arena (Capacity: 1,500)
Director of RugbyGela Kobuladze
Coach(es)Irakli Ninidze
Captain(s)Giorgi Tkhilaishvili
League(s)Didi 10
2023–245th
1st kit
2nd kit

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.

History

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Didi 10

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They 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

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Batumi 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

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After 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

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Players

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RC Batumi squad for the 2024–25 Didi 10 season

Props

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  • Georgia (country) Saba Surmanidze
  • Georgia (country) Giga Kobakhidze
  • Georgia (country) Aleko Shamilishvili
  • Georgia (country) Bachuki Chumbadze
  • Georgia (country) Knight Doghania
  • Georgia (country) Jaba Shatirishvili
  • Georgia (country) Murman Jijavadze
  • Georgia (country) Luka Putkaradze

Hookers

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  • Georgia (country) Vazha Tagauri
  • Georgia (country) Iona Fircxalava

Locks

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  • Georgia (country) Giorgi Mosulishvili
  • Georgia (country) Gaga Arabuli
  • Georgia (country) Lasha Pofkhadze
  • Georgia (country) Nukri Ferselidze

Back-row

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Scrum-halves

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  • Georgia (country) Koba Bujiashvili
  • Georgia (country) Archil Turmanidze
  • Georgia (country) Nika Ninidze

Fly-halves

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Centres

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  • Georgia (country) Beka Urjukashvili
  • Georgia (country) Giorgi Tsiklauri
  • Georgia (country) Nika Dumbadze

Outside Backs

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  • Georgia (country) Zura Ninidze
  • Georgia (country) Sergi Chkhaidze
  • Georgia (country) Roma Makhatadze
  • Georgia (country) Vazha Mikadze
  • Georgia (country) Vitali Iremadze
  • Georgia (country) Alexander Todua
  • Georgia (country) David Trapaidze
Key
  • Senior 15s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
  • * denotes players qualified to play for Georgia on dual nationality or residency grounds.
  • † denotes players dual-registered with Black Lion.

Staff[10]

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Role Name
Manager Georgia (country) Gigi Khocholava
Director of Rugby Georgia (country) Gela Kobuladze
Head Coach Georgia (country) Irakli Ninidze
Assistant Coach Georgia (country) Davit Gugushvili
Assistant Coach Georgia (country) Paliko Jimsheladze
Physical Trainer Georgia (country) Giorgi Chkhartishvili
Video Analysis Georgia (country) Irakli Bezhanidze
Team Doctor Georgia (country) Paata Tsintsabadze
Physio Georgia (country) Tiko Laitadze

Record in European games

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As of 15 August 2024

Opponent Competition Pld W D L PF PA PD
Georgia (country) Black Lion Rugby Europe Super Cup 2 0 0 2 3 66 +63
Germany Heidelberger RK European Rugby Continental Shield 1 1 0 0 33 16 +17
Romania Romanian Wolves Rugby Europe Super Cup 2 1 0 1 40 33 +7
Italy Rugby Rovigo Delta European Rugby Continental Shield 1 0 0 1 27 31 -4
Israel Tel Aviv Heat Rugby Europe Super Cup 2 1 0 1 27 36 -9
Romania Timișoara Saracens European Rugby Continental Shield 3 1 0 2 38 49 -11
Italy Rugby Viadana European Rugby Continental Shield 1 0 0 1 31 27 -4

Notable players

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Internationals

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Rugby World Cup
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

Honours

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  • 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

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References

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  1. ^ "კაცთა შინაური კვარცხლბეკი". stat-rugby-ge.translate.goog. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  2. ^ "2017/18 Continental Shield". Rugby Archive. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Batumi to join the Rugby Europe Super Cup". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  5. ^ "RC Batumi raring to go in Rugby Europe Super Cup". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  6. ^ "Rugby Europe Statement – Russia and Belarus Suspension". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  7. ^ "RC Batumi vs Black Lion". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  8. ^ "RC Batumi vs Tel Aviv Heat" (PDF). Rugby Europe. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Rugby Europe Super Cup 2022". Rugby Europe. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  10. ^ "დიდი 10 | ბათუმი". stat-rugby-ge.translate.goog. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
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