[2] Like some other rugby playing nations, the popularity of the game in Georgia can be traced back to a pre-existing Georgian folk sport, called lelo or Lelo Burti (meaning literally in Georgian "Field Ball"), which is a full contact ball game, and very similar to rugby.

Two teams, usually consisting of the male population of neighboring villages, would face each other, with the local priest acting as the referee.

A large, heavy ball was placed in the middle of the field and the goal of the game was to carry it over the river creek of the opposing side.

[2] Rugby has been played in Georgia since the 1930s, possibly earlier, but its first official test was against a touring Zimbabwe side.

He is still alive and living in Marseille, he was interviewed on French radio on the occasion of Georgia playing France in the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

In 1997, New Zealand coach Ross Meurant found the national team had only two practice balls, when he went to advise the Georgia Under-19 squad.

Meurant said that the tackle bags that they were using were improvised: They were of denim material, obviously stitched together on a domestic sewing machine and stuffed with rubber.The wife of another coach had stayed up half the night making them.

Their 1998 loss to Romania saw Georgia face Tonga in a repechage match to enter the 1999 Rugby World Cup in Wales.

[6] Notable players include Giorgi Shkinin,[6] and captain Ilia Zedginidze who was considered something of a Renaissance Man in World Cup rugby as a talented international lawyer with the ability to speak several languages fluently.

Since most of the Georgian internationals play in France, its quality level does not match the popularity of rugby union across the country.

A combination domestic side, The Black Lion, owned by the Georgian Rugby Union, was created to take part in international club competition.

Originally entered into the European third tier Rugby Europe Super Cup, they are two time winners.

The majority of the national side are based in France, in the lower divisions, having been sent there to improve their rugby skills and facilitate their development by coach Claude Saurel.

Prior to the 2003 Rugby World Cup, Georgia had failed to qualify for any previous tournaments, despite coming close in 1999 after losing a two legged repechage play-off against Tonga.

Georgia then bounced back to defeat Russia 17–13 to qualify for the subsequent 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Georgia won games against Tonga and Namibia, finished third in the group and automatically qualified for 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Initially started as a one-year competition, the championship is now decided over two years with each team playing each other on a home and away basis.