Georgian rugby bosses are pushing for the country’s domestic outfit Black Lion to join the Vodacom URC, with World Rugby reportedly backing these efforts.
According to the UK’s Daily Mail, this move comes as the nation seeks greater exposure to top-level competition, despite its national team currently ranking one spot higher than 12th-placed Wales.
“We have decided to withdraw from the Rugby Europe Super Cup,” Georgia’s high-performance director Levan Maisashvili told the Daily Mail. “We now have the opportunity to start negotiations for inclusion in the URC.
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“This is one of our biggest strategic goals and we have full support from World Rugby.”
Black Lion president Soso Tkemaladze added: “Black Lion is the only way for Georgian rugby to develop. The Challenge Cup has given us a lot of experience over the last two years. We have ongoing negotiations with the URC.”
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