Six Georgian legionaries’ clubs will play in the quarter-final of “Amlin Challenge Cup”, which is second rank club tournament of Europe. “Brive” as well as “Toulon” is leader in its group. As far as you know Davit Khinchagishvili, Vasil Kakovini and Irakli Natriashvili play for “Brive” and Davit Kubriashvili, Kote Mikautadze and Levan Chilachava play for “Toulon”.
On January 19 “Brive” won decisive match over “Sale Sharks” – 19:9 and as a result went though the quarter-final. Khinchegashvili and Natriashvili were in the main staff of “Brive” in this match. Both of them played very well. Khinchegashvili was substituted at the 65th minute and Natriashvili played for 35 minutes. This time Kakovini was not in the main staff.
In the fifth group, “Agen” beat “La Vila” in front of 2169 spectators – 62:7. But the result of this match did not have any important of the tournament, because “Brive” was winner of this pool. Hosts scored 10 tries. Georgian first-liner Beka Sheklashvili appeared on the pitch at the 60th minute and since that time French scored three tries. “Agen” gained two victories at “Challenge Cup” and took the third place with 10 points.
In the second pool, going through the quarter-final was guaranteed for “Toulon”. As far as you know Georgian rugby players Davit Kubriashvili, Levan Chilachava and Kote Mikautadze play for “Toulon”. It needed to beat outsider Italian “Petrarca Padona”. In front of 2000 spectators “Toulon” won over “Petrarca” – 50:6. Kubrashvili appeared on the pitch at the 54th minute, as far as you know Mikautadze and Chilachava had debut in the first match against “Petrarca”, but they were not in the main staff of the club in this following match. It is newsworthy that Chilachava scored try in the first round against “Petrarca” and Mikautadze played in this match so well that he even had debut in Top14 and scored try in elite division. “Toulon” gathered 25 points. “Lyon” which beat “Newcastle” 21:13 had chance of taking the first place if “Toulon” failed. “Lyon” won over “Newcastle” in front of 7115 spectators. It is remarkable that Guram Kavtidze and Tariel Ratianidze who play for “Lyon”, but none of them participated in this mentioned match. “Lyon” gained 14 points and took the second place in its pool.
Three teams of “Heineken Cup” added to top five of “Challenge Cup” and the schedule of the tournament is already known. On April 5-8 “Brive” plays against “Scarlets” and “Toulon” against “Harlequins”.
Zura Ksovreli