Georgian club Black Lion secure historic victory over Scarlets

Just two years after their founding, Georgia’s Black Lion Rugby Club secured a first-ever victory in the EPCR Challenge Cup.

The Rugby Europe Super Cup champions’ 23 – 7 victory over the Welsh URC side, the Scarlets, follows their national team’s victory over Wales in 2022 at the Principality Stadium.

The Georgians are coming 👊

Welcome to #ChallengeCupRugby @BlackLionRugby 🇬🇪

Along with… pic.twitter.com/iZkAyFgoIv

— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) July 6, 2023

Having coming agonisingly close to a victory in round one as they narrowly lost 15 – 10 to Gallagher Premiership Gloucester Rugby in round one.

To their credit, the Scarlets started quick as backrow Vaea Fifita crossed for the opening try of the evening but this would be as good as it got for the Welsh side.

Recovering from the early blow, the Georgians managed challenging conditions and physically dominated their hosts for the remainder of the fixture.

Managing the match to perfection was flyhalf Luka Matkava who cooly slotted two conversions and three penalties.

Scoring a try in both halfs, the first of which came in the 33rd minute through Miriani Modebadze before Beka Mamrikashvili’s crossed in the 58th minute.

The Scarlets are in real trouble now with Black Lion hooker Beka Mamrikashvili having rounded off a lineout maul drive to extend the Georgians lead to 20-7 with 18 minutes to go in Llanelli.

— Simon Thomas Rugby (@simonrug) December 15, 2023

CAIS 🏉

Black Lion ymhellach ar y blaen!

🔴 Scarlets 7-20 Black Lion

📲 Rygbi Ewrop yn fyw ar @S4C.#ChallengeCupRugby | @Scarlets_Rugby pic.twitter.com/s2BgsmE5GY

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— S4C Rygbi (@S4CRygbi) December 15, 2023

Next up for the Black Lion club is a meeting with two French Top 14 powerhouses in Castres  Clermont Auvergne.

A monumental victory for Georgian Rugby as the Black Lion club defeat the Scarlets in the EPCR Challenge Cup. pic.twitter.com/6DFfDWUV8y

— Philip Bendon (@PBendon) December 15, 2023