St David’s College Rugby Tour to Georgia
St David’s College from North Wales are the first British school to bring a rugby tour to Georgia. They have an action packed schedule beginning with their first game against one of the Georgian Rugby Academy teams on Saturday 1st April at 11am at the Martkopi Rugby Ground. They will also get chance to watch some of the Big Ten sides play on Sunday followed by their own second game on Tuesday 4th April at 4pm at the Shevardeni Stadium.
The team will be housed in the National Team’s training facilities at Shevardeni and they are very honoured to have National Coach, Milton Haig putting them through their paces in a training session on Monday morning.
Head of PE Daniel Lycett said “this is a great opportunity for the boys to experience a trip of a lifetime to a country very few people travel to, we are extremely privileged that the Georgian Rugby Union has been so hospitable to us”.
They will also meet the British Ambassador and hear more about the UK’s activities in Georgia, visit Social Café and gallery,” Rhea’s Squirrels” which supports local, disabled children and take part in a mixed Georgian and British Quiz with students from Education and Training International, ETI, to help them learn more about Georgia and for local Georgian students to learn more about Britain.
Whilst recovering between games they will also have time to see the sights of Tbilisi and enjoy Georgian food, music and culture.
The tour is supported in Georgia by the Georgian Rugby Federation, Kemsley Tours and Education and Training International.
We invite Georgians and the local expatriate community to come out and watch the rugby on Saturday and Tuesday.
Please come and show them your support; the more the merrier. Any questions about match venue please contact Pam Kemsley-Dugladze at md@eti-georgia.ge
Proposed itinerary
Thursday 30th March 2017
- 06.00 Coach leaves St Davids College to airport
- 07.30 – 08.00 Team meet at Manchester Airport
- 10.30am flight to Tbilisi via Munich (Long stop over at Munich 8 hours) night 1(Fabrika)
Friday 31st March 2017
- 03.45am - Land in Tbilisi. You will be met at the airport by Georgian representatives where a coach will take the team to the accommodation (Fabrika Hostel). Late breakfast.(11.00)
- 12.30 Sightseeing in central Tbilisi
- 15.30 Lunch at local restaurant (Astoria)
- 17.00 Transfer to Shevardeni Base
- Free time
- 18.00 Dinner at Shevardeni
- 19.00 Early night (but with option to run around a bit at stadium)
- Night 2 (Shevardeni Base)
Saturday 1st April 2017
- 08.00 Breakfast
- 09.15 Leave Shevardeni for Martkopi Rugby Ground
- 09.45 Arrive at Martkopi
- 10.15 Pre -game warm up/team talk
- 11.00 -13.00 Match v Academy XV U-16/17
- 13.00 Packed lunch en route to Rustavi for Krasni Yar vs Timsoara Saracens
- 14.00-16.00 Krasni Yar vs Timsoara Saracens
- Return to Shevardeni (by approx. 17.30)
- 19.00 Post Match dinner at Shevardeni
- 21.00 Free evening (at base)
- Night 3 (Shevardeni Base)
Sunday 2nd April 2017
- 10.00 Trip to Tbilisi National Museum
- 12.00 Trip to Ethnographic Museum and Lunch
- 16.00 (Exact time to be confirmed) Georgia Championship (Didi Ati- Big Tens)
- 19.00 dinner at Shevardeni
- Night 4 (Shevardeni Base)
Monday 3rd April 2016
- 09.00 Breakfast
- 09.45-10.30 Free time
- 11.00 – 12.00 coaching session with Milton Haig, (head coach of Georgian National Team)
- 13.00-15.00 Afternoon visit to Rheas union (presentation and light buffet) meeting the British ambassador to Georgia
- 15.00-18.00 Sightseeing at the Funicular railway and Tbilisi Centre
- 19.00 Dinner at Shevardeni Stadium
- Free evening (at base) Quiz and Games evening with ETI students
- Night 5 (Shevardeni Base)
Tuesday 4th April 2017
- 10.00 Free morning
- 10.30 – 12.00 light training session
- 12.30-13.00 Press Conference
- 13.00 Light lunch
- 15.00-15.30 Team talk/ dry coaching session
- 16.00-18.00 Match v Georgian Rugby President XV U-16/17 (representative side)
- 20.00 Gala Dinner and presentation
- Night 6 (Shevardeni Base)
Wednesday 5th April 2017
- 02.30 Depart for Tbilisi airport
- 04.30 Flight back to Manchester via Munich