Borjgali, symbol of national identity, on Georgia Rugby’s World Cup jerseys

Georgia Rugby has unveiled its new jerseys for the  2023 Rugby World Cup, where the “Lelos” will be one of seven national teams to wear Macron in the competition. The Georgian national team will make its World Cup debut on Saturday 9 September at the Stade de France against Australia, in the first match of a Group C round robin that will also see them clash with two other national teams with Macron Hero on their shirts, namely Wales and Portugal.

The new match kits feature a wholly exclusive design and attention to detail, with National colours and symbols combined with high-tech and quality materials. The graphic feature of the new Georgia shirts is actually the design of the vine shoot, symbol and expression of national identity of a country that is historically considered among the oldest wine producers. The new kits are made from Eco Fabric, a 100% polyester material obtained from recycled plastic and therefore convey a clear message of sustainability and respect for the environment.

The Home shirt is red with a V-neck with purple borders, a chromatic feature also present on the cuffs of the sleeves. The inside neck is customised with the national team colours, and features the word GEORGIA in white using the characters of the Georgian alphabet, a source of national pride due to its uniqueness in the world. Underneath the inscription is a vine shoot, the meaning of which is inspired by a story as fascinating as it is dramatic: Georgian soldiers, off to war to defend their homeland, used to carry in their bags a vine shoot. If they fell under enemy fire and were not buried by their comrades, their body would become as one with their land. This way, after a few years, the vine shoot would have given rise to a lush vineyard, which at the same time would have represented a “homecoming” for fallen soldiers and offered a harvest for widows and orphans. The inside neck is completed by the Macron logo and the words Designed in Bologna, certifying and highlighting how each garment is conceived, designed and developed in the Macron headquarters.

The central element that characterises the graphics of the home kit is the Georgian Borjgali, a traditional symbol deeply rooted in the history and folklore of this country. The Borjgali, also known as the Georgian Cross or Sun Cross, is an ancient pagan symbol representing the sun, light and eternity. It consists of a circle with branches radiating from it, forming a cross shape. In this case, each ray is formed by vine shoots to once again emphasise Georgia’s connection to nature and its land. The vine shoot, in gold, is also present on the outer back neck. On the right side of the chest is the Rugby World Cup 2023 logo in white, the Macron Hero in the centre, and the Georgia Rugby Union logo is on the left. The shorts are red with white drawstrings and the red socks have a purple band at the top.

The Away version, which exactly matches the design of the first jersey, is completely white with a purple V-neck and red and purple striped sleeve edging. Again, the inside neck is customised as in the Home version. The graphic on the front repeats the Borjgali pattern tone-on-tone, consisting of vine shoots, a detail that is also present in gold on the outside back of the neck. The Borjgali and vine leaves design not only represents the sporting excellence of this country, but also encapsulates the values of its history and traditions. White shorts and white socks with a red upper border complete the second shirt kit.

These new match kits, along with Replica versions and the items of the clothing and merchandising line that Macron produces for the Georgia Rugby Union, are available in the section dedicated to the Georgian national team on the macron.com website.

Along with Macron's national team shirts, you can live your passion for rugby and the Rugby World Cup 2023 through official merchandising line sportswear available from the RWC 2023 online store, the macron.com website and all Macron Sport Hubs and authorised Macron dealers.