THE ROSE REVOLUTION

GEORGIA EXPERIENCED two revolutions in 2003. One was peaceful, the other was violent. One was political, the other was sporting. Both stood for new beginnings.

That autumn, Georgia transitioned from an autocracy to democracy, shrugging off the final vestiges of Soviet rule, and the national team made their Rugby World Cup bow. It was only 12 years after they’d gained independence and they reached the showpiece by beating Russia, their rivals of several centuries, 17-13 in Tbilisi.

The Rose Revolution – so named for the flower petals scattered in parliament by protesters – began as Georgia’s rugby team took their first uncertain steps onto the world stage.

“Our country has suffered a lot, like almost all the former Soviet countries,” explains Gia Labadze, a back-row in that team. “We had our mission and our battle in Australia. Before independence I was a Georgian player who represented another country, the Soviet Union. Afterwards, I could proudly represent my country. I put more