The strong rugby bond between South Africa and Georgia was further strengthened on Thursday when the Junior Springbok assistant coaches hosted a highly successful coaching seminar at the team’s hotel in Tbilisi.
The seminar, aligned with World Rugby’s legacy initiatives, focused on the fundamentals of forward and set-piece play.
The proceedings were opened by SA Rugby Union (SARU) Deputy President, Mr Francois Davids, who set the tone by highlighting the warm relationship and growing cooperation between SA Rugby and the Georgian Rugby Union.
The two nations regularly clash at age-group level, frequently arranging fixtures to maximize playing opportunities for their Under-18 and Under-20 players. Notably, the Junior Springboks travelled to Georgia for a two-match series last year and again earlier this year as part of their preparations for the Junior World Championship.
Georgia also sent teams to South Africa to compete in the SA Rugby U20 International Series in May this year, and last August in the U18 International Series, while their senior men’s team played Tests against the Springboks in South Africa in 2021 and 2025.
“Our countries share a special relationship, and the coaches and staff of both teams have come to know each other very well through our regular engagements over the past two years,” commented Junior Bok forwards coaching consultant Barend Pieterse.
“The local coaches present today were a remarkably enthusiastic group, and their passion for the game was evident in every interaction.”
The seminar was presented by Pieterse, a former Springbok lock with extensive international coaching experience. Presenting alongside him was Lumumba Currie, the Junior Boks’ assistant coach who was part of the coaching staff that guided the SA U20s to a world title in Italy last year.
The masterclass focused heavily on the technical aspects of lineouts, scrums, and mauls. Pieterse said: “It was no surprise to us that the local coaches were so eager to dive into the set-piece aspects of the game. Both Georgian and South African rugby identity is built on a love for the physical battle. The scrum, lineout, and maul are vital to how both nations play.”
Currie added that initiatives such as the seminar were an important way of giving back to the wider rugby community.
“Rugby continues to grow when coaches and players are prepared to share ideas and learn from one another,” said Currie.
“We have always enjoyed our visits to Georgia and the relationships that have developed over the years. Hopefully, sessions like these can play a small role in helping to grow the game even further.”
The local Georgian coaches expressed their immense gratitude to the South African coaching staff for their openness and the valuable technical knowledge shared during the session.
Georgia Rugby Union coaching development manager George Nozadze said the seminar provided a valuable learning opportunity for the local coaching community.
“We have tremendous admiration for South African rugby, and to be part of a session like this was a real privilege,” said Nozadze, who is also the Georgia Sevens coach.
“It was an outstanding masterclass, and we gained a great deal from the technical discussions, particularly around the lineout and maul, which are areas of the game that Georgians are especially passionate about.
“Our coaches will leave inspired by what they have learnt and motivated to apply those lessons within their own environments. We would like to thank the Junior Springbok coaching staff for their generosity, openness, and willingness to share their knowledge.”
While making a meaningful contribution off the field, the Junior Boks’ attention now turns firmly to their Junior World Championship semi-final against England on Monday evening in Tbilisi. The match starts at 18h30 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Meanwhile, World Rugby has announced the match officials for Monday’s two semi-final matches in Tbilisi. The SA U20 encounter with England will be refereed by Kevin Bralley of France, while the other semi-final between France and New Zealand is set to be handled by George Selwood of England.
Mud Eye
When it was first mentioned in 1624, the cricket bat was not a bat but merely a stick, similar to the one used in hockey. In the 1770s after changes in the game’s laws, a swell was designed at the bottom. It was, however, very heavy. The oldest preserved cricket bat was made in 1729 and is kept in Oval’s Sandham Room in London.