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SHUKHUTI, Georgia — Yearly, tons of of Georgians collect on Orthodox Easter in April for a sporting match that makes rugby appear tame.
Referred to as Lelo Burti, this notoriously brutal sport originated three centuries in the past and was as soon as performed throughout Georgia. Now, a match is just held yearly, in a single place on this planet: Shukhuti, a village within the west of the nation. An much more historical type of the game, known as Burtaoba, dates again hundreds of years.
Watching this muddy and bloody sport provides an perception into how this Caucasian nation with a inhabitants of simply 3.7 million carved out a spot for itself at rugby’s prime desk on this 12 months’s World Cup, alongside heavyweights similar to New Zealand, South Africa and France.
Lelo Burti has barely any guidelines, no time restrict, and no set variety of gamers.
The match options two groups — Zemo (Higher) and Kvemo (Decrease) Shukhuti — and a 16-kilogram ball, which is produced from scratch annually by stuffing a leather-based casing with principally sand, sawdust and wine.
The ball is saved within the native church earlier than kick-off at 5 p.m., when a priest brings it to the middle of the village and throws it into the thronging mass of members, this 12 months numbering within the tons of. Their intention is to get the ball previous their very own objective — by any means essential. The primary to take action, wins.
This 12 months’s match lasted simply 60 minutes and noticed Zemo Shukhuti declare victory.
As custom dictates, the gamers then carried the ball to the native cemetery to relaxation it on the grave of a revered particular person. That honor this time went to Aleksandre Mgeladze, who died final 12 months shortly after collaborating within the sport.
Whereas rugby union has now taken over as Georgia’s nationwide sport, Lelo Burti hasn’t been totally relegated to the previous; on the World Cup in France, kicking off in September, anticipate to listen to Georgian followers chanting: “Lelo, Lelo, Sakartvelo!” (“Rating, rating, Georgia!”)
