Rugby Club Batumi LLC is a Georgian professional rugby union club from Batumi, who plays in the Didi 10, the first division of Georgian rugby. They have won the competition a total of 5 times.
History
Didi 10 They have won the top flight competition in Georgia 4 times over its history, the first coming in 1998–99, beating then reigning champions RC Kochebi Bolnisi. Their next title came in 2002, in an all Batumi final with the 1st team going up against the 2nd team, the 1st XV were victorious 27–10.
European Rugby Continental Shield Batumi were invited to the 2017–18 European Rugby Continental Shield, they were seeded in Pool B with Italian sides Calvisano and Petrarca, as well as Portuguese side CDUL. With 2 wins and 2 losses Batumi finished second in their group advancing to the Pool play offs, being beaten by the Timișoara Saracens 32–18 over two matches.
Rugby Europe Super Cup After winning the Didi 10 in the 2021–22 season, RC Batumi were invited to the 2022 Rugby Europe Super Cup to replace the two Russian sides after Enisei-STM and Lokomotiv Penza were suspended form the tournament.
Their first match was a Georgian derby against the reigning champions Black Lion, Batumi falling to a 29–3 loss. Their first win came on the 24 September against that years runners-up, beating Israeli side Tel Aviv Heat 19–11. They finished 3rd in the Eastern Conference missing out on qualification for the semifinals. They did not go on to feature in the 2023 edition of the competition.
Current squad
Players RC Batumi squad for the 2024–25 Didi 10 season Props
Saba Surmanidze Giga Kobakhidze Aleko Shamilishvili Iona Pirtskhalava Rezo Margalitadze Raindi Doghania Luka Putkaradze
Hookers
Vazha Tagauri Tornike Gabelaia
Locks
Giga Julukhadze Gaga Arabuli Lasha Pofkhadze Nukri Ferselidze Giorgi Sharvashidze Back-row
Giorgi Iremadze Giorgi Shukakidze Giorgi Tkhilaishvili
Vano Putkaradze
Scrum-halves
Giorgi Margalitadze Archil Turmanidze
Fly-halves
Buba Nozadze Rezi Djintchvelashvili
Centres
Kavekini Tabu Giorgi Tsiklauri Otar Metreveli Nika Dumbadze
Outside Backs
Zura Ninidze Peter Williams Roma Makhatadze Vazha Mikadze
Alexander Todua David TrapaidzeKey
Senior 15s internationally capped players are listed in bold. * denotes players qualified to play for Georgia on dual nationality or residency grounds. † denotes players dual-registered with Black Lion.
Staff RoleNameManager Gigi KhocholavaDirector of Rugby Gela KobuladzeHead Coach Irakli NinidzeAssistant Coach Davit GugushviliAssistant Coach Paliko JimsheladzePhysical Trainer Giorgi ChkhartishviliVideo Analysis Irakli BezhanidzeTeam Doctor Paata TsintsabadzePhysio Tiko Laitadze
Record in European games
OpponentCompetitionPldWDLPFPAPD Black LionRugby Europe Super Cup2002366 +63 Heidelberger RKEuropean Rugby Continental Shield11003316 +17 Romanian WolvesRugby Europe Super Cup21014033 +7 Rugby Rovigo DeltaEuropean Rugby Continental Shield10012731 -4 Tel Aviv HeatRugby Europe Super Cup21012736 -9 Timișoara SaracensEuropean Rugby Continental Shield31023849 -11 Rugby ViadanaEuropean Rugby Continental Shield10013127 -4
Notable players
Internationals
Giorgi Tkhilaishvili Alexander Todua Lasha Khmaladze Luka Matkava Anzor Sitchinava Saba Shubitidze Niko Aptsiauri
+Rugby World CupTournamentPlayers selected players1987–20110–20151Giorgi Tkhilaishvili20193Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, Alexander Todua, Lasha Khmaladze20233Luka Matkava, Alexander Todua, Lasha Khmaladze
Honours Didi 10 Champions: (5) 1998–99, 2001–02, 2018–19, 2021–22, 2024-25 Runners-up: (6) 1997–98, 2000–01, 2008–09, 2016–17, 2020–21, 2022–23
See also :Category:RC Batumi players Didi 10
References
External links Batumi