Georgian National rugby team: Rugby's raining champs

Sep 22, 2011

Rugby's raining champs

They waited for an hour in the rain and cold but it was worth it for South Wairarapa school students who chanted and cheered as the Georgia rugby team arrived in Featherston.

The lawn outside the Fell Museum was a sea of Georgian flags, waved by students from South Featherston School, St Teresa's School and Kuranui College. The team was also welcomed with a haka performed by Featherston School students.

South Wairarapa Mayor Adrienne Staples welcomed the team dressed head-to-toe in red and white, complete with a bright red wig, and councillors Solitaire Robertson and Keith Sexton also attended alongside National MP for Wairarapa John Hayes.

Keziah Stonnell, 12, from Featherston School, said getting soaked by the rain was a minor setback and meeting the team was really cool.

"It's really cool because I've never met a rugby team before, so it's a different experience really. We've been doing a bit of research at school about Georgia which has been fun," Keziah said.

"We did have flags when we got here but they got ruined in the rain and we had our faces painted at the last minute but most of it had washed off by the time they got here, but apart from the rain it's all pretty awesome."

The team was welcomed onto Te Ore Ore Marae yesterday with a powhiri by Rangitane and Kahungunu in conjunction with Rugby World Cup 2011, which included a full wero and mass Ko Wairarapa haka performed by local schools and rugby clubs.

The rain threatened to send the powhiri inside but held off as the putatara (conch shell) sounded, signalling the start of the welcome.

Speakers and hongi hariru followed the haka, and guests were invited into the marae for supper.

Today the team were to take part in a mayoral lunch, where Wairarapa singers performed the Georgian national anthem, and players will be hosted by local families for dinner.

Tomorrow they are shearing with a Wairarapa shearing gang.