Ospreys beat Black Lion with seven tries in Tbilisi to end long road trip

Ospreys finished a long stretch on the road by scoring seven tries to two against Black Lion at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi.

The win in Georgia was the last of four away games that opened the Welsh club's 2026-27 campaign. They played in Durban, Johannesburg, Newport and Tbilisi, covering about 10,000 miles in four weeks.

A fast start sets it up

Ospreys took control early and were 22-7 up by half-time. All three back-rowers and wing Luke Morgan scored in that first 40 minutes.

Flanker Gwilym Evans led the way and was named Ospreys' player of the match, though it was only his fourth start for the club. He said the visitors went in knowing what Black Lion would bring.

"We had to start fast because we knew that they pride themselves on their set-piece and physicality," Evans said.

Evans was one of six try scorers, along with Morgan Morse, Huw Sutton, Lewis Lloyd, Kian Hire and Morgan, who got two. The tally could have been bigger. Late on, the TMO ruled out a try by Harri Wilde for offside. Fly-half Lawson Creighton also had a difficult day with the boot, landing only two conversions, BBC Sport reported.

Black Lion had the final say when replacement back-row forward Otar Giorgadze went over from a driving line-out for a consolation try. Benoit Rousselet of France refereed the match.

A side with a history of upsets

The margin is worth noting because the Georgian side have caught out bigger names before. They have beaten Scarlets and the French pair Vannes and Montauban, and in 2025-26 they ran eventual winners Montpellier close.

"We can be happy with the performance," Evans said.

Home at last

Ospreys will finally play at home when they open their revamped St Helen's ground with United Rugby Championship derbies against Dragons and Cardiff, both before the November international break.

Their next Challenge Cup match is at home to Harlequins in December. Check the full rugby fixtures for dates.