Red-faced organisers have been forced to offer “a sincere apology” after a Russian song was played following Georgia’s victory over Uruguay on September 29 at the Rugby World Cup.
As has become tradition, a song from the victorious nation is played after all matches at the tournament, currently taking place in Japan.
But as the Georgian players celebrated their 33-7 victory over Uruguay, the song heard in the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium was sung in Russian, rather than in Georgian.
“It was a Georgian singer, but it was a Russian song, sung in Russian,” said Georgia’s head coach Milton Haig.
“We want to make it clear Russia is not Georgia, and Georgia is not Russia. It is a different language, culture, everything. Please make sure these kind of things are ironed out for us,” added Haig.
“Please don’t make this mistake again,” added Jaba Bregvadze, Georgia’s captain.
Georgia’s next match in the tournament is on October 3, when they play Fiji in Osaka.
Earlier in September, the Scottish Rugby Union had to apologise after playing the wrong Georgian national anthem before a match between Georgia and Scotland in Edinburgh.
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