The Black Lion (Georgian: Shavi Lomi) is a professional Georgian rugby union team based in Tbilisi that competes annually in the European Challenge Cup, the second tier of European club rugby.
They also competed in the Currie Cup First Division in South Africa in 2022. Black Lion competed in Rugby Europe Super Cup from 2021 to 2024.
History The franchise was created in 2021 to participate in the Rugby Europe Super Cup. It is owned by the Georgian Federation, which employs the players. All the players are without clubs or playing in the Georgia league (Didi 10). Players are made available to Didi 10 clubs when they have no obligations with their franchise, up to a limit of 4 per club. The club played the Currie Cup First Division in 2022. In Spring 2023, Black Lion toured South America, playing against the professional sides featuring in Super Rugby Americas. They defeated the club sides they faced, but were narrowly defeated 28–24 by a South America XV squad in Montevideo.
In June 2023, Black Lion applied to take part in the European Challenge Cup, the second tier of European club Rugby. They participated in the Challenge Cup for the 2023-24 season as one of two invited teams. Black Lion were the first Georgian rugby team to ever play in the Challenge Cup tournament. On 15 December 2023 Black Lion won their first match in the competition, defeating Welsh hosts Scarlets.
Name
The name of the franchise has several inspirations. The players of the national team are sometimes nicknamed the lions, in reference to an (unofficial) anthem of the national team, which says: "freedom is the property of the lions". Also this is similar to the Georgian Rugby Union's slogan, "Freedom is a lion's destiny". The second inspiration comes from Georgian artist Niko Pirosmani, one of whose most famous works is the painting Black Lion. The club logo is a reinterpretation of the lion's face in a style reminiscent of a fusion of the Georgian letters შ (shini) and ლ (lasi), the initials of the club's name, in the unique typeface of the Georgian alphabet.
Honours Rugby Europe Super Cup Winners (4): 2021-22, 2022, 2023, 2024 2022 Currie Cup First Division semi-finalists Toyota Challenge Winners (1): 2025 Runners up (1): 2025
Wins against pro teams
DateHomeScoreAwayVenueStatus15 December 2023Scarlets 7–23 Black LionParc y Scarlets, Llanelli2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup7 December 2024Black Lion 22–19 VannesMikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi2024–25 EPCR Challenge Cup10 January 2026Montauban 28–31 Black Lion Stade Sapiac, Montauban2025–26 EPCR Challenge Cup
Current squad
The Black Lion squad for EPCR Challenge Cup 2025–26 season is:
Black Lion SquadProps Davit Abdushelishvili Giorgi Chkhartishvili Kahkaber Darbaidze Nika Khatiashvili Vasil Kakovin Giga Kobakhidze Iona Pirtskhalava Badri Tsikhistavi
Hookers Shalva Mamukashvili Irakli Kvatadze Tamaz Tchamiashvili Tengiz Zamtaradze
Locks Gaga Arabuli Mikheil Babunashvili Guram Ghaniashvili Demur Epremidze Giorgi Kervalishvili Giorgi NikoladzeBack row Jiuta Biau Batirerenga Otar Giorgadze Ioane Gusharashvili Sandro Mamamtavrishvili Giorgi Sinauridze Lasha Tsikhistavi Giorgi Tsutskiridze
Scrum-halves Mikheil Kachlavashvili Davit Khuroshvili Giorgi Spanderashvili Tengiz Peranidze
Fly-halves Luka TsirekidzeCentres Tornike Kakhoidze Zaur Lutidze Lasha Malaghuradze Demur Tapladze
Wings Shalva Aptsiauri Giorgi Bolkvadze Otar Metreveli Amiran Shvangiradze Kavekini Tabu Akaki Tabutsadze Sandro Todua
Fullbacks Luka Takaishvili (c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped.
Coaches Current coaching staff The current coaching staff for the Black Lion team: NameNationalityRoleVasil AbashidzeManagerLekso IordanishviliManagerMarco Bortolami (interim)Head coachLado KilasoniaAssistant coachDavit NemsadzeStrength & Conditioning coachWilliam LavisRehab coachAbsalom AbramishviliPhysiotherapistEd BarryPhysiotherapistDavit RamishviliVideo-AnalystNika PinaishviliGPS-Analyst
See also Georgia national rugby union team Rugby union in Georgia Tbilisi Caucasians :Category:Black Lion (rugby union) players
References
External links