Lelo orlelo burti (Georgian:ლელო ბურთი), literally a "field ball [playing]", is aGeorgian folk sport, which is a full contact ball game, and very similar torugby.[1] Within Georgianrugby union terminology, the wordlelo is used to mean atry, and the popularity ofrugby union in Georgia has also been attributed to it.[2] In 2014, lelo burti, along withkhridoli, a traditional martial art, was inscribed by the government of Georgia as a "nonmaterial monument" of culture.[3]
It appears in the 12th century Georgian epic poemThe Knight in the Panther's Skin in which the characters play lelo burti.
Lelo was played in Georgia from ancient times and is still played on occasions in rural areas. A field ("Lelo") would be selected and
Sometimes the playing field was between two water courses. The two teams, usually consisting of the male population of neighbouring villages, would face each other. The number of players from each side was not set traditionally, but included any able men each village could summon.[4] A large, heavy ball was placed in the middle of the field and the goal of the game was to carry it over the river to the "half" of the opposing side.
It was believed that the winning team would secure a better harvest for their village.
During theSoviet Period,lelo became standardised:
This standardised version features fifteen-a-side teams (as perrugby union), and forward passing (in contrast to rugby football).[6] Players are allowed to knock the ball out of opponents' hands, but unlikeAmerican football the blocking of opponents without the ball is not allowed.[6] The pushing and tripping (or hacking) of opponents is also disallowed, and players are not allowed to jump on them.[6] The object is to get the ball into the goal mouth, which is known as amak.[6]
Players are also only allowed to carry the ball for five seconds before passing. The game consists of two halves of thirty minutes, with a ten-minute interval.[6]
The Lelos (as they are nicknamed) are thenational rugby union team of Georgia. One standard cheer of Georgian rugby union fans isLelo, Lelo, Sakartvelo (Try, Try, Georgia).