Georgia ready for moreGeorgia scrum half and vice captain Irakli Abuseridze is enjoying his second appearance at the IRB Rugby World Cup with a typically relaxed Georgian attitude.
After Georgia won over the hearts of Australian rugby fans with their never-ending enthusiasm during their first world cup appearance in 2003, Abuseridze is hoping for more than just enthusiasm from this tournament.
"Going to Australia in 2003 was like going to another planet. It was something completely bizarre for me and we had no idea what to expect. But that experience has brought us forward so much, and we're sure we'll have a better result here," he said.
Abuseridze was a late-bloomer when it came to rugby, only discovering the game at the age of 17.
"I just came to a training session because my friend was doing it, and I decided to copy him. I followed him one day and a year later was in the Under 19s national team."
Although his friend's rugby career finished in that same junior club where it started, Abuseridze found a lot of what he was looking for in the sport.
"I've always liked speed. In cars, in games. When you speed on the field, the pleasure, the adrenaline - it's unreal."
Along with being on Georgia's national team since 2000, the 29-year-old Abuseridze has been playing at club level in France for Rugby Club Orleans for the past six years.
Although he only returns home to Georgia once a year for just a month, having so many other Georgian players based in France is a welcome comfort.
"Whenever we have holidays we all meet up and hang out. It reminds us of home, and definitely helps with the homesickness. You can never forget your home, but it helps to deal (with it), and to remind you why you started to play in the first place."
This post has been edited by Gio-Fire on 9 Sep 2007, 13:09
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Rugby World Cup 2007 in FRANCE, რაგბი. მსოფლიო ჩემპიონატი 2007
