Day four 10th December 2024:
In the style of James Joyce’s stream of consciousness:
Beers beers beers and more beers last night swirling foaming spilling sloshing down the throat down the hatch down to nowhere good the morning comes too soon too sharp a jolt a pang minibuses minibuses where are we going where is Wyllie and his contraptions no legroom no seat belts clattering over potholes the countryside sprawling endlessly beautiful desolate forgotten by the world forgotten bags bags bags tied to the roof flapping noodle heaving Joel backwards in time or just his seat or maybe his mind spinning spinning spinning stop stop stop breathe Racha we’ve arrived no not a Pokémon not a game it’s here naps bowel movements the great journey the little lives carrying on onward to the quaint little astro Racha Arena the lads dismount wolves and school kids who knows lineouts thrown tossed spinning again caller’s got the reins he’s steering now low foot speed high detail it’s happening happening always happening.
Back to the ‘hotel’ though is it a hotel or just a holding pen arctic swims freezing skin the fish watching fish knowing boys Spar-bound for something edible edible to who to what to where napski napski Star Wars Georgian style blasting from the throne room blasters pew pew pew pew the boys Sunday best looking sharp looking rough cuisine finest finest or maybe not a bite tour banter flying spinning Sander bottling bottling again what is it the thought on the thought nothingness a trick magic magic tricks the little fellas delivering wonder eyes wide mouths wide all closed soon early night surprise tomorrow lurking waiting another minibused promise ahead.
By Tom Elway and Fergus Dick
Day three 9th December 2024:
The boys woke up on the second day in Georgia for another traditional Georgian hotel breakfast. Having had an early night the team were ready for an intense day of training at the AIA Arena in Kutaisi. We departed for the arena and began the first training session of the day which involved an hour of skills & conditioning. After a quick break for a snack & drink, we then entered the arena gym under the stand for a hot & sweaty mobility & gym session. The boys then had a group meeting in the Georgian sun which was beaming down and the kickers stayed for a quick session before heading back to the hotel for some rest. The boys headed into town for a big feed, trying the local dishes, where the khinkali dumplings and chicken schnitzels were hits. After a couple hours of rest & recovery, the boys prepped for their final block of training for the evening; an opposed session against Georgian Pro team & current league leaders Ares Kutaisi. This was a full contact line-out & maul session for the forwards and starter plays with the backs. The blues ripped into this and went toe-to-toe with the local side, with some great rugby on display. After a team photo with Ares, we headed back to the hotel, cleaned up and headed out for an evening of food and festivities.
by Jack Botham and Harry Bridgewater
Day two 8th December 2024:
Our first day in Georgia started with a team breakfast at the hotel before moving on to explore the markets and main square of Kutaisi. In the afternoon we visited the (mostly) abandoned spa town of Tskaltubo, with the boys taking in the grand architecture of the Sanitorium Medeya while also making friends with a number of stray dogs along the way.
After having spent the morning and early afternoon absorbing Georgian architecture and history it was time for some much deserved downtime after a long travel day on Saturday. After this brief intermission, next up was a team meal affording ample opportunity for team bonding and to explore Georgian cuisine. Khinkali, mtsvadi, and lobiani are just a selection of the dishes that were shared between the team. An excellent meal was not only the perfect way to end our first full day in Georgia but also prepare us for our first day of training on Monday.
by Joel Anjorin
Day one 7th December 2024:
Travel day from London Stansted to Kutaisi via Mimingem
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