As Georgia kicked off their Autumn Nations Cup campaign against England at Twickenham on Saturday, eagle-eyed viewers might have noticed a vine symbol on the back of their jerseys.
But what does it symbolise? Well, the vine represents an ancient Georgian tradition, whereby soldiers would carry a grapevine on their backs as they headed into an unequal battle.
The warriors would then know that if they fell unburied in conflict, their bodies would reintegrate with the motherland – the home of grapes and wine – with themselves fertilising the soil and helping to produce a vineyard.
While the enemy would never know that his adversary left a beautiful vineyard behind with his life, in three years the flourishing plantation would provide widows and orphans with a symbol of their loved ones, ultimately showcasing the unbreakable soul and the spirituality of Georgian culture.
After valiantly going down 40-0 at Twickenham in their opening Group A clash, Levan Maisashvili’s side will once again proudly wear the vine on their shirts against Wales in Round 2.
