Zaal GUI GUI NEI SHVILI
* Born: 28 Feb (under Pisces) 1961 in Tbilissi, GEORGIA
* 180cm, 80+ kg
bald, bearded, wears glasses, cap/beany and Lelos pin
NON- smoker BUT regular consumer of LOMISSI rice lager
[now scales @ around 100kgs & coaches kids at his school]
* School: Javakhishvili #53
graduated in 1978 with Gold Medal for Excellence
* University: Tbilissi, Applied Mathematics (Computers) Department
graduated in 1983 with Red Diploma for Excellence
* Married to Darejan (Jane, b. 5 Apr 1958) with
daughter Mariam (Mary, b. 2 May 1992) and two rugby-playing sons,
Luka (Luke, b. 2 Sept 1993) and Niko (Nick, b. 26 Jan 1995)
* Full-time jobs:
1984-1993 Computer science lecturer, Tbilissi University
1994-2005 Chief rugby writer (Sarbieli, Olympi)
* Part-time jobs:
Three spells during 1988-2001
Media Officer & Board Member with Georgia RU
1986-1993 Rugby writer, Lelo newspaper
1999-2005 Rugby commentator (state-owned Channel One -
18 matches, cable Channel Seven - 130 matches, Mze - 3 matches)
2002-2005 Webmaster
* Rugby involvement & achievements
1972-1987 Wing/ Centre with Locomotivi (age grade) and University
1986 Started regular story-writing on international rugby
1987 Secured equal with soccer treatment for rugby at Vake Stadium
1988 Introduced and held inaugural Vake sevens
1989 Re-named the game as RUGBY (previously it was called regbi).
Set claret as main colour for Georgian jersey and Borjghali (aka Lelo)
as its crest. Linked Georgia RU with IRB
1990 Translated and published first Law book in Georgian
1993 Compiled first GRU Media Guide
1995 Established Sini, local version of NZ Ranfurly shield
1997 Started contributing to IRB publications
1998 Published first bilingual annual RAGBETI / RUGBYSHIRE
1999 Made first TV commentary of international rugby match
in Georgian
2000 Translated and published new ('made easier') Law book
in Georgian
2001 Started news service GEORGIAN RUGBY BUNCH via e-mail
2002 Started (and is still keeping) two rugby web-sites, this BUNCH
in English and ZEPURI RAGBI in Georgian. Established Antim Cup
for annual competiton between Georgia and Romania
2003 Produced LELOS OF GEORGIA Media Guide for RWC.
Provided Georgian section for IRB Database
2004 Appointed as Georgia RU web-master www.rugby.ge
Translated into Georgian and published Rugby League Laws
Started 13 Kartveli site
2005 Revived rugby at his School #53
Kept writing, TV commentating, web publishing &
producing match-day programmes
* In general, set trends in covering rugby and numerous other sports
throughout Georgian media. Colleagues copied and adopted his style,
language and terminology
Holds an unique archive of web-materials re international rugby
(11 thousand printed pages), 18 CDs full of TXT, GIF, JPG, HTM, PDF
and some 300 video tapes
Advices local sports bars & rugby lovers on TV scheduling
LELOS of Georgia and HOOLIGANA (sons' club)
WALLABIES and ACT BRUMBIES
* Other sporting interests
Rugby League, Cricket, Ice Hockey (NHL), Aussie Rules, Boxing
* Hobby
Practical linguistics and geography, ie collecting dictionaries and maps