The Georgian Rugby World Cup squad arrived at the Skyline complex in Queenstown yesterday smiling - and left with the hearts of many following its official civic welcome.
The gracious guests - including their good luck charm Givi Chichinadze - travelled for more than two days to get to Queenstown on Monday, some flying via Tblisi, Nice, Dubai, Sydney and Christchurch before finally touching down in the Lakes District.
Yesterday afternoon at the Skyline complex, Georgian Rugby Union president George Nijaradze said being in Queenstown was "a dream".
"It is a fantastic country, [with] fantastic people.
"We will try to perform very well to make our people proud, first of all, because we have no easy life in our country.
"These are the guys who make their people proud that they're Georgian.
"We will try to do this."
Earlier in the reception, Mr Chichinadze left the crowd of dignitaries, invited guests and media speechless when he performed a traditional Georgian song in response to a welcome from Ngai Tahu.
While not an official member of the Georgian squad, Mr Chichinadze travels with the squad bringing luck and most often uses his operatic-style voice to perform the Georgian national anthem.
Former International Rugby Board chairman Dr Syd Millar told the team if it played as well as it sang "we're all in trouble".
Team captain Irakli Abuseridze was presented with a pounamu statue, while Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden was presented with wine from Georgia, the oldest wine-producing country in the world.
The Georgian squad travels to Wanaka tomorrow and will hold an open training session at the Queenstown Rec Ground on Friday.
Its first game in the 2011 Rugby World Cup is next Wednesday, in Invercargill, against Scotland.
