Georgia's home away from home

Georgia captain Ilia Zedginidze holds aloft the national flag during the Rugby World Cup 2003.

VILLEFRANCHE, 5 September - Georgia's preparation for the IRB Rugby World Cup reached fever pitch on Wednesday when the R.C.C.N Children's Rugby School officially welcomed the team to France.

"We've been here for a few weeks training already (in Nimes), but from today it really feels like the rugby world cup. We feel really welcome," said captain Ilia Zedginidze.

With the picturesque vineyards of the Chateau de Pizay all around them, team officials created a home away from home as they unloaded cases of famous Georgian wines.

Meanwhile the players, most of whom are regulars on French soil, signed endless autographs for the kids.

Alain Genevet, a Rugby School representative, explained that while the kids were aware that quite a number of the players on the Georgian team play club rugby in France, "their names are too complicated and the boys are too small to remember such complex names".

The complications, however, did not get in the way of the boys' enthusiasm as they surrounded player after player to collect as many autographs as possible, on hats, t-shirts, napkins and anything else that was handy, while waving their Georgian flags high above their heads.

Georgia flanker Ilia Maisuradze summed up the mood of his team-mates saying, "Everybody is ready to play and to sacrifice everything".

Georgia kick off their world cup campaign against Argentina in Lyon on 11 September.  

RNS lz/md/sek