In a fierce men’s rugby match held in Batumi, Georgia, Wing Shalva Aptsiauri’s impressive performance led Georgia to a 38-17 victory over Canada. Despite an early try from Canada, Georgia’s dominant scrum and agile backs secured a 17-3 halftime lead. Canada fought back with two tries in the second half, but Georgia extended their lead with three more tries.
Alongside Aptsiauri, Demur Tapladze, Giorgi Kveseladze, and Tornike Jalagonia also contributed tries for Georgia, while Tedo Abzhandadze successfully converted four kicks. Canada’s Brock Gallagher and Sion Parry scored tries, with Peter Nelson adding a penalty and two conversions.
Both teams have secured spots in the 2027 World Cup in Australia. The physical game saw multiple yellow cards, with Georgia receiving three and Canada one.
This victory marked Georgia’s third consecutive win over Canada, improving their head-to-head record to 5-3-0. The game took a toll on both teams, with players leaving the field due to injuries.
Canada, now with a 1-7-0 record for the year, will conclude their November tour against Portugal. The match was played at the Adjarabet Arena in Batumi, with Canada facing travel issues that impacted their preparation. Notably, new players like Barnaby Waddell and Emerson Prior made their starts for Canada.
Despite a strong start from Canada, Georgia quickly took the lead with Aptsiauri’s opening try. Georgia’s performance remained dominant throughout the game, securing a well-deserved victory.