Wing Shalva Aptsiauri shone with a hat-trick as Georgia overpowered Canada 38-17 in a rugged men’s rugby clash held in Batumi, Georgia. Despite conceding an early try, Canada put up a strong fight for the first 20 minutes against the physical Georgian team. However, Georgia’s solid defense and dominance in the scrum allowed them to take a commanding 17-3 lead by halftime.
Canada managed to find some success on the attack, scoring two tries in the second half. Nevertheless, Georgia continued their momentum with three additional tries after the break, courtesy of Demur Tapladze, Giorgi Kveseladze, and Tornike Jalagonia. Tedo Abzhandadze converted four kicks for Georgia.
On the Canadian side, Brock Gallagher and Sion Parry scored tries, with Peter Nelson adding a penalty and two conversions. Both teams secured qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
The match was characterized by intense physicality, leading to injuries on both sides. Georgia’s Dato Abdushelishvili and Ilia Spanderashvili were forced out due to injuries, while Canada’s Jason Higgins didn’t return for the second half.
The game, played at the Adjarabet Arena in Batumi, marked Georgia’s third consecutive victory over Canada, improving their head-to-head record to 5-3-0. The Canadian team, now 1-7-0 for the year after their fifth straight defeat, will face Portugal in their final November tour match.
Canada faced travel challenges getting to Batumi, with their scheduled flight from Bucharest canceled, resulting in an overnight stay in Istanbul. Despite the disruptions, the Canadian team showed resilience on the field.
Notable performances included Aptsiauri’s impressive hat-trick, Georgia’s dominant scrum, and Canada’s persistence in attack. The physicality of the game was evident through various penalties and yellow cards shown to both teams.
The Canadian starting lineup featured experienced players, with Captain Lucas Rumball, Cole Keith, and Peter Nelson leading the team in caps. Despite the loss, Canada displayed determination and showcased promising talent from their young squad.
The match in Batumi provided an exciting display of rugby, with Georgia emerging as the dominant force against a resilient Canadian side.