Georgia 🇬🇪 Lelo, precursor of rugby, July 2026

Lelo Burti is an ancient, full-contact Georgian folk sport that predates modern rugby and is widely considered its genetic precursor. Played annually on Easter Sunday in the village of Shukhuti, the brutal, rule-free mud wrestling game requires hundreds of villagers to battle for a heavy, 16-kilogram leather ball.

The Cultural Roots of Lelo Burti:

The game of lelo (literally "field ball") dates back centuries and is famously mentioned in the 12th-century Georgian epic poem, 'The Knight in the Panther's Skin'. In modern times, the annual Easter match in Shukhuti pits the Upper (Zemo) and Lower (Kvemo) halves of the village against each other. 

The goal is to push the ball through natural obstacles, such as rivers and ditches, to a designated boundary. Once the game ends, the winning team places the ball on the grave of the most recently deceased villager to honor their memory.

Connection to Modern Rugby:

The cultural connection between lelo and modern rugby union is huge in Georgia. The physicality and team-based territorial struggle in lelo are widely credited for the natural ability Georgians have for rugby scrums and gameplay.

This heritage has shaped the terminology of the sport in the country:

"Lelo" is the official Georgian word for a try. The Lelos is the famous nickname for the Georgian national rugby team.

"Lelo, Lelo, Sakartvelo" (Try, Try, Georgia) is a standard, beloved chant sung by Georgian rugby fans.