Bernard Lapasset, chairman of the International Rugby Board, who is paying a visit to Tbilisi, held meetings with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili and Levan Kipiani, minister of Sport.

He is satisfied with the decision of the country that 33 673 968 GEL will be spent on rugby in 2014-2016. Lapasset promises the Georgian fans that he will do his best for the development of the Georgian rugby.

After the meeting with the Prime Minister, Lapasset, Levan Kipiani and Giorgi Nizharadze, president of the Georgian Rugby Union, visited the Sports Museum at the Ministry of Sport. Then, they had a talk in the cabinet of the minister and met the journalists.

Levan Kipiani: “Today we have a very special guest. The arrival of Bernard Lapasset is a great honor for the Georgian rugby and I want to thank him. A very interesting meeting was held with the Prime Minister.

The joint work of the government, the Georgian Rugby Union, the International Rugby Board and private sector gives us the result which we have in this sport. As a result of it, we have made an unprecedented decision and we will finance the Georgian rugby three times higher.

It is a great gift for the Georgian rugby before tomorrow’s match. The meeting with Lapasset gives us hope that Georgia will host different age teams and also, sevens rugby tournaments”.

Giorgi Nizharadze: “I want to thank Lapasset who found time and visited our country. It is his great support toward the Georgian rugby. There was a very good meeting with the Prime Minister. Lapasset stated that such successful collaboration of the government, private sector and the Rugby Union is a great example. The government will increase finances and of course, the goals will also increase.

We talked to Lapasset about the problems. The International Rugby Board is ready to hold high level tournaments in Georgia but one big stadium and 6-7 bases are necessary for it. The development of the Georgian clubs is important for the Georgian rugby. If the Georgian clubs do not play at European tournaments, we cannot develop. The team needs 250-300 000 EUR for playing at “Challenge Cup” and the private sector must be involved in it”.

Bernard Lapasset: “I am very happy to be here. The meeting with the Prime Minister and the minister will give us a good result. Stability and strategy are very important for the development of rugby. Georgia has already reached a certain level and it is the result of the government’s support.

Georgia is the seventh country in Europe regarding the development of rugby. The IRB has no connection with Six Nations but after the 2015 World Cup we will start working so that Georgia will join this tournament. In my opinion, the borders must open. Rugby must not be privatized by Six Nations and Four Nations. Sevens rugby is played in 120 countries and it oppresses rugby union.

We are ready to offer Georgia the idea of holding high level tournaments. Club rugby must develop. Georgia and others countries must have a chance to participate in “Heineken Cup” and “Challenge Cup”. We did not interfere in organization of the tournaments but the Brits want to create another closed circle and I am against it. Georgia is a part of Europe and it must be involved in the European club tournaments.

We did our best to make sevens rugby an Olympic sport but now only 12 countries are involved in it. We created such system that all countries have a chance to play at the Olympics. I believe, in the future the number of the participant teams at the Olympics will increase”.

Zura Ksovreli