Georgia Eye South American Tour in June 2017

Following on from an unbeaten three match tour last month Georgia is looking to repeat this in 2017. The Lelos played in the Pacific Islands, returning home with wins over Fiji and Tonga and a draw against Samoa.

The tour was the first of its kind for the Caucasus country. Finding test matches in the June Internationals has been a complicated task for Georgia. This is the case despite Georgia now being ranked 11th in the world and having dominated the European Nations Cups for the past three cycles of Rugby World Cups.

Georgia’s position in world rugby is largely a state of being no man’s land. Italy and Japan are both ranked lower yet both are able to regularly secure home internationals against Tier 1 countries.

To find a place at the top table Georgia is seeking to show just what it has to offer by winning on the field. At Rugby World Cup 2015 wins over Namibia and Tonga secured automatic qualification for Rugby World Cup 2019.

With it Georgia has added pulling power. Indeed the likes of Rugby World Cup regulars Canada, Fiji, Namibia, Romania, Samoa, Tonga and the USA failed to qualify directly. In aiming even higher the Lelos played in Oceania last month and in June 2017 it looks likely that it will be a tour of South America.

The Georgia Rugby Union has confirmed that it is looking to tour the continent in June 2017. The proposed international schedule would see Georgia playing test matched in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.

Potential dates for this tour would be June 10, 17 and 24. All three are to fall on Saturdays. Moreover the 2017 Top 14 Final will be played on Sunday June 04, thereby freeing up all French-based players for international duty.

Such a tour would be groundbreaking for both hosts and the visitor. Never before has Brazil faced Georgia. Uruguay has done so on five previous occasions, winning in 2003 and 2004. The 2004 match was the only time in which the Lelos have played in Uruguay.

Argentina and Georgia have had four previous outings, three of which have been at Rugby World Cups. The tightest match between them was the only other match which was won 29-18 by Los Pumas in San Juan. Tomás Cubelli scored the match winner in what was the game’s only try.