ORIGINS

Now it's an established fact that the founding father
of Georgian rugby is certain JAKO

He, Mr Jacques Haspekian, native of Marseille, started to teach
young Georgians 'the noble art' in late 1950s but by mid-60s eventually

managed to retrieve his French passport and returned to his homeland

Jako introduced rugby to Georgian students who, despite the shooting
of March 1956, and total discouragement from the communist authorities,
dared to adopt the principles of 'alien, capitalist pastime'

Rugby historian Caesar Darchia recently made a research and established
that first ever rugby session was held on 15 October 1959 at Tbilissi
Racecourse. Some 20 pioneers attended and all of them but one are
pictured on this unique photo
 

The one missing was Nodar Qipiani who took the shot and whom Jako
subsequently appointed as first skipper of the first Georgian club
GPI (Georgian Polytechnical Institute), nowadays Qochebi (Rams)

JAKO was back to his adopted land in February 2001 and attended
Georgia vs Portugal ENC match. He was immensely proud for the Game
which he started some 40 years ago, has flourished in Georgia,
the prospect he could not envisage when he brought the only
oval ball to this country