Junior Springbok assistant coaches Barend Pieterse and Lumumba Currie hosted a coaching seminar for Georgian coaches in Tbilisi on Thursday, deepening the well-established rugby relationship between the two nations ahead of Monday's Junior World Championship semifinal against England.
The seminar, aligned with World Rugby's legacy initiatives and opened by SARU Deputy President Francois Davids, centred on the technical fundamentals of lineout, scrum, and maul — areas that define both nations' rugby identities.
"Both Georgian and South African rugby identity is built on a love for the physical battle," said Pieterse, who earned his Springbok caps as a lock before moving into coaching. "The scrum, lineout, and maul are vital to how both nations play."
Currie, part of the coaching staff that guided the SA U20s to the world title in Italy last year, framed the initiative as part of a broader obligation to the game. "Rugby continues to grow when coaches and players are prepared to share ideas and learn from one another," he said.
The ties between SA Rugby and the Georgian Rugby Union have grown steadily over the past two years through regular age-group exchanges. The Junior Springboks toured Georgia for a two-match series last year and again earlier in 2025 as World Championship preparation, while Georgia participated in the SA Rugby U20 International Series in May and the U18 International Series in August last year. At senior level, Georgia have played Tests in South Africa in both 2021 and 2025.
Georgia Rugby Union coaching development manager and Sevens coach George Nozadze said the session delivered particular value around the lineout and maul. "Our coaches will leave inspired by what they have learnt and motivated to apply those lessons within their own environments," he said.
The Junior Springboks' semifinal against England on Monday evening in Tbilisi will be refereed by France's Kevin Bralley.