Falcons host national team pre-RWC

 

Falcons confirmed that they will be playing Georgia on Friday, August 28 at Kingston Park Stadium. 

 

The international challenge match will form part of the World Cup preparations for Georgia as well as a vital pre-season test for the Falcons.

 

Georgia will compete in Pool C of the 2015 Tournament which kicks off three weeks after the match versus Newcastle on September 18. They will play against world champions New Zealand as well as Argentina, Tonga and Namibia with the top two qualifying for the quarterfinals.

 

The 'Lelos' as they are known are currently ranked 14th in the official World standings above Italy, USA and Canada. They have won the European Nations Cup, the tier below the Six Nations, on six occasions out of the past seven years.

 

Speaking about the match Falcons Director of Rugby Dean Richards said:

 

"It's a huge honour for us to host such a proud rugby nation as Georgia at Kingston Park Stadium. 

 

"They really are the emerging force of world rugby and with this being their full World Cup squad it will be an enormous test for us. 

 

"A big number of the Georgian players are with clubs in France so they used to playing at the very highest levels week in week out.

 

"For us it will be a massive challenge ahead of the 2015/16 season. We'll have a number of new players with the team who will be keen to make their mark. 

 

"For our supporters it will be a great way to welcome in the new season and to whet their appetite for a momentous World Cup Tournament that will kick off just three weeks later."

 

Commenting on the game the Georgian Director of Rugby Milton Haig said:

 

"The match against Newcastle is a very important part of our final preparation stage going into the World Cup. 

 

"We are very appreciative of Newcastle giving us the opportunity to play them and we are sure the fans in the area will enjoy the spectacle."