Go Lelos

Milton heads into camp for three weeks.
With many weeks of preparation behind him, the boys will finally be together to get what's on paper onto the pitch. I'm guessing any coach would love the opportunity to work with his players everyday, but international rugby coaches don't have that luxury. With 75% of the Georgian players based in France and IRB restrictions on the amount of time you can be together before a test match. Milton is lucky to get the full 15 together 4 days prior to the game. But he says that's the job and you just have to make the best of it.
Milton lives at the Rugby high performance centre with the team when they are in camp. Wouldn't it be great if all jobs had a place for you to stay when you had a stressful project on. Your own space to let off steam when needed, to think and totally focus on the task at hand (without having to involve the family). Many people ask how I feel about this part of the job. Honestly, I have no issues, its part of the job and it gives the girls and I time to just hang out together, in between the normal daily grind of course. We do get to steal a couple of visits with him during his stay, a quick kiss and hug in the grandstand after a game, in between people wanting photos of him (oh to be famous) and many Skype calls.
Well the week has flown by and we head out to catch one of those quick moments with. We are very lucky to be there in time to watch the the jersey presentations. It's very quiet in the team room, the odd sound of a phone game can be heard as the players gather. Milton says a few words and the Georgian Rugby President presents the jerseys. I feel a little emotional as each players name is called, the pride they must feel, but I also feel the dissapointment of the players who missed selection for some reason or another.
The girls and I have been to every game that the Lelos (this is the Georgian name for the team) have played in Tbilisi. Over the past 19 months we have seen Georgia play many European Nations teams as well as Japan, Fiji, Emerging Ireland and South Africa. At most of these games, the girls and I cheered quietly by ourselves, amongst very loud Georgian supporters. Today it is nice to have some good friends and supporters with us and to be cheering very loudly.

Congratulations to our favourite coach.